Key Takeaways from Opening Statements in Donald Trump’s Criminal Trial
Prosecutors’ Case:
* Accuse Trump of falsifying internal Trump Organization business records to squelch negative stories during the 2016 presidential campaign.
* Claim the scheme was designed to silence women who threatened to expose embarrassing stories about Trump, thus influencing the election.
* Present evidence of invoices and checks that allegedly reimbursed former lawyer Michael Cohen for $130,000 in hush money payments to Stormy Daniels.
Defense Strategy:
* Call the case baseless and claim Trump’s actions were intended to protect his family and reputation.
* Argue that payments to Daniels were not an illegal campaign expenditure but an effort to influence the election, a common practice in presidential campaigns.
* Attempt to discredit Michael Cohen as a serial liar who has turned against Trump.
Planned Evidence:
* Testimony from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who allegedly helped suppress negative stories about Trump.
* Recording of a conversation between Trump and Cohen discussing payments to Karen McDougal.
Additional Points:
* Trump’s lawyer refers to him as “President Trump” out of respect, while the prosecution uses “the defendant.”
* Trump portrays himself as an everyman while seeking to capitalize politically on the trial.
The trial is expected to continue with dramatic and potentially embarrassing testimony as prosecutors seek to make their case and the defense fights the charges on multiple fronts.
