NEW YORK: Donald Trump‘s protection crew rested its case within the prison hush cash trial on Tuesday with out calling the previous U.S. president to testify.
Trump’s legal professionals referred to as two witnesses in his protection. Justice Juan Merchan stated jurors would return subsequent Tuesday to listen to closing arguments, with deliberations seemingly starting the next day.
Trump’s legal professionals had requested Merchan to dismiss the case earlier than it reaches the jury, arguing that it rests on the testimony of a witness, the estranged former Trump fixer Michael Cohen, who has a well-documented historical past of mendacity.
Such dismissal motions are hardly ever profitable, and Merchan indicated on Monday that he was inclined to let jurors assess Cohen’s credibility for themselves. Prosecutors say his testimony is buttressed by different proof.
Cohen, the prosecution’s ultimate witness, wrapped up his testimony on Monday, clearing the best way for Trump’s legal professionals to current witnesses and their very own proof.
Lawyer Robert Costello, the second witness referred to as by Trump’s protection, testified on Monday that Cohen informed him he didn’t have any incriminating data on Trump.
Costello’s demeanor on the witness stand apparently angered Merchan on Monday, who cleared the courtroom to inform him, “Do not roll your eyes.” Costello resumed testifying on Tuesday earlier than the protection rested its case.
Trump is accused of protecting up a $130,000 cost that purchased the silence of porn star Stormy Daniels, who within the ultimate weeks of the 2016 presidential election was peddling her story of a sexual encounter with Trump.
Although the hush-money cost itself isn’t unlawful, Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying enterprise information to cover his reimbursement to Cohen, who initially paid for the transaction.
Trump, 77, has pleaded not responsible and denies wrongdoing. He says he by no means had intercourse with Daniels and has forged the trial as a politically motivated try to harm his effort to win again the White Home as a Republican from Democratic President Joe Biden within the Nov. 5 election.
Cohen testified that he spoke repeatedly with Trump concerning the cost to Daniels within the ultimate stretch of the 2016 presidential marketing campaign when Trump was dealing with a number of accusations of sexual misconduct.
Cohen stated Trump frightened that Daniels would damage his attraction to ladies voters if she went public together with her story. Trump’s authorized crew says he made the cost to guard his household from embarrassment.
Cohen admitted on the witness stand on Monday that he had stolen cash from Trump’s enterprise, saying he was indignant his bonus was lower after he dealt with the Daniels cost.
Trump’s legal professionals referred to as two witnesses in his protection. Justice Juan Merchan stated jurors would return subsequent Tuesday to listen to closing arguments, with deliberations seemingly starting the next day.
Trump’s legal professionals had requested Merchan to dismiss the case earlier than it reaches the jury, arguing that it rests on the testimony of a witness, the estranged former Trump fixer Michael Cohen, who has a well-documented historical past of mendacity.
Such dismissal motions are hardly ever profitable, and Merchan indicated on Monday that he was inclined to let jurors assess Cohen’s credibility for themselves. Prosecutors say his testimony is buttressed by different proof.
Cohen, the prosecution’s ultimate witness, wrapped up his testimony on Monday, clearing the best way for Trump’s legal professionals to current witnesses and their very own proof.
Lawyer Robert Costello, the second witness referred to as by Trump’s protection, testified on Monday that Cohen informed him he didn’t have any incriminating data on Trump.
Costello’s demeanor on the witness stand apparently angered Merchan on Monday, who cleared the courtroom to inform him, “Do not roll your eyes.” Costello resumed testifying on Tuesday earlier than the protection rested its case.
Trump is accused of protecting up a $130,000 cost that purchased the silence of porn star Stormy Daniels, who within the ultimate weeks of the 2016 presidential election was peddling her story of a sexual encounter with Trump.
Although the hush-money cost itself isn’t unlawful, Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying enterprise information to cover his reimbursement to Cohen, who initially paid for the transaction.
Trump, 77, has pleaded not responsible and denies wrongdoing. He says he by no means had intercourse with Daniels and has forged the trial as a politically motivated try to harm his effort to win again the White Home as a Republican from Democratic President Joe Biden within the Nov. 5 election.
Cohen testified that he spoke repeatedly with Trump concerning the cost to Daniels within the ultimate stretch of the 2016 presidential marketing campaign when Trump was dealing with a number of accusations of sexual misconduct.
Cohen stated Trump frightened that Daniels would damage his attraction to ladies voters if she went public together with her story. Trump’s authorized crew says he made the cost to guard his household from embarrassment.
Cohen admitted on the witness stand on Monday that he had stolen cash from Trump’s enterprise, saying he was indignant his bonus was lower after he dealt with the Daniels cost.
