In a recent development, a federal judge in Manhattan has raised doubts about the credibility of Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer to Donald Trump. Judge Jesse M Furman suggested on Wednesday that Cohen may have committed perjury under oath, giving fresh support to Trump's claims that Cohen is an untrustworthy liar.

The judge's suspicions arose in a written order denying Cohen's request for early release from court supervision following his three-year prison sentence for various crimes, including tax evasion, bank and Congress fraud, and violations of campaign finance laws. Judge Furman specifically cited Cohen's testimony in Trump's civil fraud trial last October as cause for concern.

During the trial, Cohen had adamantly insisted that he was not actually guilty of tax evasion, despite having pleaded guilty to the charge in 2018. When asked whether he had lied to the judge presiding over his previous case, Cohen candidly responded with a "Yes." This admission prompted Judge Furman to question the veracity of Cohen's earlier testimony, stating that it presents two possibilities: either Cohen committed perjury when he pleaded guilty previously, or he committed perjury during his October 2023 testimony.

Judge Furman emphasized that Cohen's ongoing efforts to distance himself from his prior acceptance of responsibility for his crimes are indicative of the need for specific deterrence. Consequently, he maintained the court supervision that is set to conclude later this year.

Trump, who has long criticized Cohen's credibility, seized the opportunity to reiterate his claims of massive perjury on Cohen's part during the civil fraud trial in state court. Although Trump lost that particular case, with a penalty of $454 million imposed on him, he continues to question Cohen's trustworthiness as a witness.

Cohen's lawyer, E Danya Perry, responded to Judge Furman's findings, refuting his conclusion as "factually inaccurate and legally incorrect." Perry noted that the trial judge had in fact stated that Cohen had told the truth. She argued that Cohen had never disputed the underlying facts of his conduct and emphasized the pressure defendants often face to agree to coercive plea deals.

Meanwhile, Alina Habba, one of Trump's lawyers, seized upon Judge Furman's remarks, asserting that they confirm their belief that Cohen committed perjury and should face prosecution. Habba echoed the sentiment of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, which promotes "one standard of justice for all" on their website.

In addition to the perjury allegations, the court also addressed an unrelated matter involving a lawyer who cited three fictitious legal case citations in a filing. The lawyer was unaware that Cohen had falsely provided those citations, having obtained them from Google Bard. The judge ultimately decided not to impose sanctions, as Cohen's lawyer promptly reported the issue upon discovery.

Cohen's involvement in Trump's hush-money criminal trial as a key prosecution witness has been delayed until mid-April, following complaints from the defense about a last-minute evidence dump related to a 2018 federal investigation into Cohen and the hush-money matter. These delays further highlight the legal complexities surrounding the case.

As this situation unfolds, the credibility of Cohen and the impact it may have on Trump's legal battles remain subjects of intense scrutiny.