During the ongoing criminal trial of ex-President Donald Trump in New York City, New York, an unexpected revelation came to light. Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney and “fixer,” testified on May 14 about an interesting detail concerning Trump’s wife, Melania Trump.
According to Cohen’s testimony, Melania was the brains behind the “locker room talk” defense. This was in response to the infamous Access Hollywood tape leak where Trump was heard making inappropriate comments about women.
As a witness in the trial, Cohen recollected a crucial period of Trump’s 2016 presidential run. Jurors were presented with email exchanges between Cohen and Steve Bannon, who was the campaign manager at the time. In these emails, Cohen expressed immediate concerns about controlling the narrative of the leaked tape.
Cohen narrated a conversation with Trump during a family vacation in London. Trump ordered Cohen to use all his media connections. “We needed to put a perspective on this… that this is locker room talk, something that Melania had recommended—that’s what Melania thought it was—and use that in order to gain control over the story,” Cohen stated in court. He stressed that the strategy was designed to reduce the harmful effects of the tape on Trump’s campaign.
Although Melania Trump has been absent from the trial and has not commented on the accusations made by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, her indirect impact on the proceedings has been highlighted. Prosecutors suggest that the evidence indicates that Trump may have been unfaithful to his wife multiple times and then tried to hide these affairs to safeguard his campaign.
Earlier testimonies in the trial brought up Melania’s role. A White House aide proposed that the ex-model had more sway over Trump’s decisions than what was publicly portrayed.
The trial took a new direction involving Melania after a lunch break. Prosecutors asked Cohen about the termination of a non-disclosure agreement with adult film actress Stormy Daniels. When Cohen hurried to inform Trump about the failing agreement, it was Melania who enabled the communication between the two. “Good morning Michael, can u pls call DT on his cell. Thanks,” a text from Melania to Cohen dated October 18, 2016, ensured that Cohen could directly inform Trump about the situation.
The trial continues to unveil the complex dynamics of Trump’s personal and political life. Melania Trump’s behind-the-scenes influence has become a key point of focus. As more information comes to light, the court and the public gain a deeper understanding of the tactics used by Trump and his close associates during critical junctures of his 2016 campaign.
