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Donald Trump's lead attorney shocked legal experts with his cross examination of a star witness fixer who says he helped the former president funnel $130,000 in hush money payments to an adult film star with a story to tell.
CNN legal analyst Norm Eisen said Tuesday he was stunned that Todd Blanche managed to commit the "cardinal sin of cross examination" in a New York City criminal court trial that involves infamous tapes, alleged Lake Tahoe trysts and a historic presidential election.
"He committed the cardinal sin of cross-examination: it was so tangled up at points that it was boring," Eisen said. "There actually were some of the first boring moments."
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Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges he falsified business records to hide hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. He also denies an affair with Daniels.
On Tuesday, Cohen was tasked with defending his testimony that he helped funnel cash to Daniels, whose story he said Trump feared would torpedo the presidential campaign.
Cohen has faced criticisms of credibility, which Eisen argued worked in the prosecution witness' favor.
"Cohen benefitted from low expectations," Eisen said. "Everyone thought he would have a hard time on cross. He was disciplined, he was credible."
The same could not be said for Blanche.
"It was a bad start for Blanche, a good start to Cohen," Eisen said. "He meandered all over the map."
He argued Blanche would be best served by rethinking his entire strategy, arguing any points scored would not register with a jury to bored to consider them.
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"Blanche had better throw out that big notebook that he brought with him today, tear it up, and start again tomorrow," Eisen concluded. "Because it ain't workin'."
English (US)