Trump’s team immediately sought to undermine key testimony against the former president.
New York:
After roughly five weeks, 19 witnesses, reams of documents and a sprinkling of salacious testimony, the prosecution against Donald Trump rested its case on Monday, turning it over to the defense ahead of closing arguments expected next week.
Trump’s team immediately sought to undermine key testimony against the former president, who is accused of covering up hush money paid to a porn star over an alleged encounter that could have derailed his successful run for the White House in 2016.
His lawyers called attorney Robert Costello — who once advised famous prosecution witness Michael Cohen before fighting with him — in an apparent attempt to undermine Cohen’s credibility.
But Costello’s start to the stand was shaky at best, as his dismissive tone provoked an angry response from Judge Juan Merchan.
The judge ordered the jury out of the courtroom to admonish Costello and, still unsatisfied, also ordered the press and others to leave briefly.
Trump, speaking to reporters afterward, called the episode “an incredible display,” calling the proceedings “a show trial” and the judge “a tyrant.”
Protracted arguments between the two legal teams, coupled with the upcoming holiday weekend, mean that closing arguments that the judge had hoped could begin on Tuesday are now expected to take place next week.
It’s unlikely and risky, but the door remains open for Trump to take a stand in the criminal trial, the first of a former US president.
Experts doubt he will do so, as it would expose him to unnecessary legal risks and forensic interrogation by prosecutors – but his lawyer, Todd Blanche, has raised the possibility.
– Marathon Quiz –
On Monday, Blanche finished her third day of interrogating Cohen after hours of sometimes digressive, other times blunt exchanges.
Cohen, Trump’s former personal lawyer and mediator, recounted last week how he kept Trump informed about the $130,000 paid to porn star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence about an alleged affair before the 2016 presidential election.
Trump’s lawyers decided to portray Cohen as a convicted felon and habitual liar, recalling the time he spent in prison for tax fraud and lying to Congress.
Blanche also investigated Cohen’s loyalty to Trump and then to the prosecution, seeking to show jurors that Cohen is selfish and willing to do anything to achieve his goals.
Blanche scrambled to goad Cohen, who has a reputation for a quick temper that could have hampered him on the stand – but the witness largely maintained his composure.
Cohen’s story generally lines up with Daniels and David Pecker, the tabloid chief who said he worked with Trump and Cohen to suppress negative coverage during the Republican White House tenure.
After Blanche broke up with him, the prosecution returned to be redirected, with prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asking Cohen what the whole experience meant to him.
“My whole life was turned upside down,” Cohen said, with genuine emotion in his voice. “I lost my law license, my financial security…my family’s happiness…just to name a few.”
-Trump 2024-
Meanwhile, Trump has complained that his 2024 election campaign for another term in the White House is being thwarted by weeks-long court proceedings that he has to attend every day.
He did it again on Monday, complaining to journalists that “I’m not allowed to have anything to do with politics because I’ve been sitting in a very cold, dark room for the last four weeks. It’s very unfair.”
Calling the case politicized, a circle of Republican leaders stood behind him as he made comments to reporters outside the courtroom.
The growing list includes several lawmakers who are eyeing Trump’s vice presidential pick, including Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
However, despite the palace intrigue and courtroom drama, the charges ultimately hinge on financial records and whether the falsification of them was done with the intention of influencing the 2016 presidential vote.
When the jury begins deliberating, the often juicy testimony will likely remain, but they will also have stacks of documents to consider.
(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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