Michael Cohen makes victory lap on TikTok after Trump verdict
Ex-president’s lawyer accuses former boss of trying to dictate defence strategy after being found guilty of paying hush money
Michael Cohen used a TikTok livestream to take a victory lap after Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts in Manhattan.
Mr Trump’s former lawyer and fixer was the key prosecution witness in the trial, which centred on hush money payments he orchestrated on behalf of the former president to Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress, to cover up an alleged affair.
Following the verdict, Mr Cohen was showered with praise by many of his TikTok followers, who said they were impressed by his evidence and handling of aggressive cross-examination by Mr Trump’s legal team.
Users sent blue hearts on the live stream as critics of Mr Trump struggled to contain their delight at the verdict.
“To put it lightly I’m a fan - that’s kind of weird,” one user said. “I think you did a very solid service to America.”
Another, however, was less happy voicing frustration with the outcome of the trial.
Mr Cohen, however, blamed Mr Trump for the verdict, accusing his former boss of trying to dictate the defence strategy.
Mr Cohen, 57, served 13 and a half months of a three-year jail term after admitting campaign finance charges and lying to Congress.
TikTok’s infuriated Trump
The one-time Trump ally has since become one of his fiercest critics, not only testifying against the ex-president but launching a social media tirade against his former boss.
Mr Cohen had been cashing in on TikTok, earning donations from users. He was taking calls and answering questions from those who participated in his broadcasts throughout the trial.
Exactly how much Mr Cohen earned from his broadcasts has not been disclosed.
The live streams were at times surreal, with at one point an oversized cowboy hat appearing on his head and on another an elephant’s ears and trunk.
They also infuriated Mr Trump, who had been subjected to a gag order banning him from attacking witnesses by Juan Merchan, the trial judge.
Eventually the judge instructed prosecutors to tell Mr Cohen to stop. He complied with what he described as a “self-imposed gag order”.
Some legal experts had suggested that Mr Cohen’s broadcasts could jeopardise the prosecution case, arguing that he had a conflict of interest as a witness.