NEW YORK: Donald Trump’s defense lawyers rested their case Tuesday – without the former president following through on a vow to testify – as the judge planned jury deliberations in the historic criminal trial for early next week.
After approximately five weeks, 19 witnesses, reams of documents and sometimes salacious testimony, judgment day in the first ever trial of a former US president was drawing closer.
New York law means the trial has not been shown on television and experts are divided on whether the airing of Trump’s dirty laundry is having much of a political impact. However, with a clash against President Joe Biden less than six months away, the looming jury verdict represents a moment of acute peril for the Republican.
Judge Juan Merchan told jurors that closing arguments would take place next Tuesday when each side would make their pitch to the 12 New Yorkers who will ultimately decide Trump’s fate.
“I will expect you will begin your deliberations hopefully at some point on Wednesday,” Merchan said.
Trump’s lawyers have sought to undermine key testimony against the former president, who is accused of illegally covering up hush money paid to a porn star over an alleged encounter that could have derailed his successful 2016 White House bid against Hillary Clinton.
Trump trial resumes, closing arguments expected next week
Lawyer Robert Costello was grilled on emails he sent to prosecution star witness Michael Cohen after the FBI raided him in 2018, with Trump’s lawyers seeking to undermine Cohen and the prosecution case.
Costello sparred with Merchan on Monday, prompting the magistrate to rebuke him for poor courtroom etiquette. Trump, in one of his regular tirades outside the courtroom, accused Merchan of being a “tyrant” in what he claimed was a “show trial.”
Earlier Monday, both sides asked their final questions of Cohen, Trump’s former personal lawyer and ultra-loyal fixer who eventually turned on his boss.
Cohen recounted last week how he kept Trump informed about $130,000 paid to porn star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence about an alleged affair ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Trump’s lawyers set out to paint Cohen as a convicted criminal and habitual liar, recalling his time in prison for tax fraud and lying to Congress.
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