Lawyer tells jury in Hush Money trial

New York:

Defense lawyers in Donald Trump’s secret trial made their final appearance to the jury on Tuesday, calling for an acquittal and insisting that the first criminal prosecution of a former US president was based on “lies.”

Less than six months before American voters decide whether to return Trump to the White House, it is difficult to overstate what is at stake in the verdict – for the 77-year-old personally, but also for the country.

Trump is accused of falsifying business records to reimburse his former lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels when her account of a 2006 sexual encounter could have doomed his 2016 presidential campaign.

Trump attorney Todd Blanche, in delivering his closing argument, told the jury that the trial “is not a referendum on your opinions of President Trump” or “who you plan to vote for in 2024.”

Prosecutors failed to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, Blanche said, and the only outcome should be a “very quick and easy not guilty verdict.”

“President Trump is innocent,” he said.

Blanche spent much of her summary attacking Cohen, the prosecution’s star witness who spent time in prison for tax evasion and other crimes, calling him the “MVP of liars” consumed by “utter hatred of Trump.”

“He is literally the biggest liar of all time,” he said. “He told you a series of things on that witness stand that were lies, pure and simple.

“You cannot convict President Trump of any crime beyond a reasonable doubt based on the word of Michael Cohen.”

Blanche said Trump was “busy running the country” when the refunds were made to Cohen and that he did not closely inspect every invoice that arrived on his desk.

“There was no intent to defraud, and furthermore, there was no conspiracy to influence President Trump’s 2016 election,” Blanche said. “He committed no crime.”

Graphic testimony

Trump had a serious expression on his face as his lawyer spoke, his head cocked to the side, studying the jurors. He raised his left hand into a fist as he left the courtroom for lunch, but did not address the assembled media.

Speaking to reporters before entering the Manhattan courthouse, Trump said “this is a very dangerous day for America.”

“We have a fraudulent lawsuit that should never have been filed,” he said as three of his five children – Don Jr, Eric and Tiffany – supported him.

Prosecutors will have the last word. They will lay out the case that Trump falsified records to keep the secret money payments secret, amid fears that the episode could sink his outsider’s already difficult attempt to defeat Hillary Clinton.

The 12 jurors – whose identities have been kept secret for their protection – will begin deliberations as early as Wednesday.

Polls show Trump neck and neck against President Joe Biden in the race for the White House and the verdict will inject new tension into an already tight race.

Speaking on behalf of the Biden campaign outside the courtroom, actor Robert De Niro berated Trump as a “clown” and “dirty real estate developer” intent on destroying the country.

Trump is the first former or sitting president to face criminal indictment, with charges ranging from the relatively minor hush money case to accusations that he took top-secret documents and tried to overturn the 2020 election.

The New York case, which featured more than 20 witnesses over five weeks and days of emotional testimony from Daniels and Cohen, is the only one likely to be tried before Election Day, Nov. 5.

If convicted, Trump could face up to four years in prison on each of the 34 charges, but legal experts say that as a first-time offender, he is unlikely to be jailed.

A conviction would not prevent him from appearing at the polls in November.

Unanimity is required

Trump chose not to testify in his defense — a move that would have exposed him to damaging cross-examination.

Instead, he has used his daily trips to court to stage televised tirades against “corrupt” judge Juan Merchan and to claim that the trial is a Democratic ploy to keep him out of the campaign.

Several Republicans loyal to Trump, including several running for vice president, walked into the courtroom to sit behind him.

To return a verdict of guilty or not guilty, the jury must be unanimous. Just one holdout means a hung jury and a mistrial, although prosecutors can seek a new trial.

In addition to the New York case, Trump was indicted in Washington and Georgia on charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

He also faces accusations in Florida of amassing massive amounts of classified documents after leaving the White House.

(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)