Trump’s Defense Raises Doubts About Witness Credibility amid “Catch and Kill” Scheme Trial

Attorneys representing former President Donald Trump hinted during his criminal trial over hush money payments that other witnesses besides Michael Cohen could also have credibility issues, potentially undermining Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case against him. While Trump and his legal team have previously stated their intention to challenge Cohen’s history of lying under oath in Congress as well as a judge’s recent admonishment regarding perjury concerns, defense lawyers are already attempting to discredit other witnesses before they even take the stand. This includes former White House communications director Hope Hicks, who may have inconsistent statements about her presence at crucial meetings. One of Trump Tower attendees accused Bragg of setting the scene for a “catch and kill” scheme during which National Enquirer publishing executive David Pecker agreed to bury stories on Trump’s behalf in 2015 by paying off women alleging affairs with him, including Stormy Daniels. However, Hicks’s own inconsistent statements before Congress may come under scrutiny as her credibility is called into question during the trial. Bragg has charged Trump with falsifying business records to cover up payments made through this scheme but maintains that these charges were committed alongside an underlying criminal intent. Prosecutors have presented evidence suggesting Pecker was willing to cut deals and provide exclusive interviews for celebrities, including Tiger Woods and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s campaign for governor in 2016, which could potentially undermine the prosecution’s argument that Trump only worked with him due to his candidacy. The defense intends to challenge Pecker, Hicks, Cohen, and all witnesses called by Bragg as their reliability may be questionable, a common tactic used during criminal trials aimed at casting doubt on opposing arguments before jurors can consider the evidence against defendants in full.