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Trump’s defense rests on secret trial in New York
Former US President Donald Trump sits in the Manhattan Criminal Court courtroom with attorney Todd Blanche on May 21, 2024 in New York City.
Miguel M. Santiago | Reuters
Defense lawyers for donald trump rested the case in his hush money criminal trial Tuesday without calling the former president to testify.
Trump’s decision not to appear on the witness stand was not a surprise, as testifying carries serious risks for any criminal defendant, especially one with a tendency to speak extemporaneously and undermine his previous statements, as he has demonstrated in depositions in other civil matters. .
Trump had previously said he was “absolutely” willing to testify in the case, where he is accused of falsifying business records related to the reimbursement of his expenses. then personal attorney and fixer Michael Cohen unpaid porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump.
“Your Honor, the defense is at peace,” Trump lawyer Todd Blanche told Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan.
Trump’s lawyers said they finished presenting testimony and evidence to the jury after they finished questioning criminal defense lawyer Robert Costellowho was one of only two people called to the witness stand.
Robert Costello is questioned by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger during the criminal trial of former US President Donald Trump on charges of falsifying business records to hide money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016 in Manhattan state court on New York City, USA on May 21, 2016. 2024 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg | Reuters
Final arguments in the case are scheduled to begin on May 28.
The former president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., when later asked by reporters why his father did not testify, said, “Why would you justify this insanity?”
“Look at the clowns they put there,” said the younger Trump, referring to the prosecution witnesses. “You do not subject yourself to this nonsense. You are going to a kangaroo court. There is nothing more, nothing less. There would be absolutely no reason, no justification for doing this.”
Trump is the first US president, former or not, to be tried in a criminal case.
The Republican faces criminal charges in three other jurisdictions as he heads toward a November rematch of his 2020 election contest against the president. Joe Biden.
Merchan sternly warned Costello, a former federal prosecutor, on Monday afternoon for staring at the judge and muttering dismissively when Merchan upheld prosecutors’ objections.
“I’m warning you that your conduct is dismissive now,” Merchan told Costello, after clearing the courtroom of most of the public and press.
“If you face me one more time, I will remove you from the stand,” Merchan warned, according to a transcript.
Former US President Donald Trump watches as Robert Costello is questioned by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger during Trump’s criminal trial on charges of falsifying business records to hide money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016 in state court of Manhattan in New York City, USA May 21, 2024 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg | Reuters
Costello testified about his dealings with Cohen in early 2018, after Cohen’s home and offices were raided by the FBI for a criminal investigation that included looking into his payment to Daniels two years earlier.
Cohen said he paid Daniels to keep her quiet about the alleged meeting with Trump in 2006, to prevent her from hurting Trump’s chances in the 2016 presidential election.
More news about Donald Trump
Trump, who denies having sex with Daniels and a Playboy model who separately received hush money from a supermarket tabloid publisher friend of his, is accused in the criminal case of falsifying business records related to Cohen’s reimbursement for the payment.
Trump’s lawyers used Costello’s testimony to try to undermine Cohen’s credibility with jurors.
This is developing news. Check back for updates.