Michael Cohen, once a loyal ally of Donald Trump but now his adversary, testified that Trump approved payments to silence potentially damaging stories during his 2016 presidential campaign.

Cohen recounted how Trump instructed him to handle situations where claims of affairs or out-of-wedlock children emerged.

One instance involved a doorman’s claim, for which $30,000 was paid to keep it quiet, and another involved a Playboy model, who received $150,000.

Cohen’s testimony, as Trump’s former lawyer, is pivotal in the Manhattan district attorney’s case against Trump, the Associated Press has reported.

The trial, the first of its kind for a former president, is nearing its conclusion, with prosecutors suggesting it may end soon.

Trump’s legal exposure could increase if jurors find Cohen’s testimony credible. Trump is expected to use Cohen’s past legal issues, including pleading guilty to federal charges, to discredit the case politically.

Former United States president, Trump has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and maintains his innocence.

Written by B.C. Begley