Closing arguments are set for Tuesday in the criminal trial of former President Trump, where Manhattan prosecutors will present their case against him for allegedly falsifying business records to conceal a payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. Judge Juan Merchan has denied Trump’s request to speak during the closing arguments. The jury will deliberate on a verdict after hearing summations from both sides.
Closing arguments are scheduled in Trump’s hush money trial in New York, the only case against the former president likely to reach a jury before the November election. Prosecutors will aim to prove Trump falsified business records to conceal an alleged encounter with Stormy Daniels, while the defense needs to create reasonable doubt among jurors to secure an acquittal. After closing arguments, the jury will deliberate, with the verdict read in court once reached. If convicted, Trump would likely be released on bond as he awaits sentencing, which could include a maximum of four years in prison, though sentences for first-time offenders with no criminal history are typically less than a year.
In a letter to a New York judge, a Republican congressman has expressed concerns about the ongoing prosecution of former President Trump, claiming that it suffers from “fatal flaws” and could undermine federal authority. The congressman argues that the case should be referred to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for review, as the alleged violations relate to federal campaign finance laws.
The ongoing testimony of Michael Cohen, former lawyer to Donald Trump, is a double-edged sword for the former president’s defense in the charges brought by Manhattan’s Democratic district attorney. While Trump’s lawyer aims to damage Cohen’s credibility, the jury may question why Trump kept him around for so long. The prosecution has attempted to corroborate Cohen’s testimony but has only done so on non-incriminating elements. Conversely, the Trump Organization’s CFO, Allen Weisselberg, has not corroborated Cohen’s key story on Trump’s knowledge of the payments. The defense should focus on the legality of non-disclosure agreements and refrain from attacking the issue of Trump’s state of mind too aggressively.
Two Republican congressional committee chairmen, Jim Jordan and James Comer, have referred ex-Trump attorney Michael Cohen to the Justice Department for allegedly lying to Congress. The letter sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland outlines specific instances where Cohen allegedly made false statements in 2019 testimonies before the House Oversight Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Jordan and Comer expressed concern that Cohen’s testimony, which forms a significant part of the ongoing Manhattan District Attorney case against former President Trump, is unreliable due to Cohen’s admitted history of lying. They urged the DOJ to investigate Cohen further and hold him accountable for his false statements. Cohen’s credibility has come under scrutiny after he admitted to lying in a civil trial related to Trump and New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit.
Porn star Stormy Daniels took the stand as a witness in Donald Trump’s hush money trial on Tuesday. Daniels claims to have had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, and prosecutors allege that Trump covered up a $130,000 payment to Daniels to keep her quiet about the affair. Trump denies the encounter and has pleaded not guilty to charges of falsifying business records. Daniels’ testimony is expected to be a key moment in the trial.
Former President Donald Trump is facing a politically motivated trial in New York, orchestrated by a partisan judge and prosecutor who are determined to secure a conviction at any cost. The trial is a blatant disregard for the rule of law and is a threat to the fairness of our electoral process.
Trump’s rights are being violated, and the process is fundamentally unfair. The trial judge, Juan Merchan, has made a series of outrageous rulings that have severely restricted Trump’s ability to defend himself. Merchan has also made it clear that he is a political activist who has no respect for the rule of law.
Merchan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg are abusing their power to damage Trump’s reputation and reputation and undermine his chances of winning the 2024 presidential election. They are using the trial to sow division and hatred in the country.
Trump will ultimately prevail on appeal, but the damage has already been done. The trial has eroded public trust in the justice system and has made it clear that political opponents will stop at nothing to destroy their enemies.
This trial is a wake-up call for all Americans who care about the future of our country. We must demand an end to the political abuse of the justice system, and we must hold those who violate the rule of law accountable for their actions.
Former President Donald Trump has made several false claims during his ongoing hush money trial. These include allegations that crowds were kept away from the courthouse, that the judge is biased, that the Biden White House is behind the trial, that violent crime in New York is at an unprecedented high, that he was not allowed to attend his son’s graduation due to the judge’s order, that legal scholars deem the case against him absurd, and that the gag order prevents him from defending himself. Prosecutors have accused Trump of violating the gag order multiple times.
Former President Donald Trump has sparked outrage after a photo emerged of him handing a “White House key” to former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso. The incident took place at Trump Tower on Tuesday, hours after Trump left a Manhattan criminal court where he is facing trial for falsifying business records to hide hush money payments. Many have criticized Trump for pretending to be president and for using the “key” as a prop. Legal experts have also raised questions about whether Trump’s actions could be considered a violation of his gag order in the criminal case.
Former President Donald Trump may have violated a gag order in an interview on Tuesday, prosecutors in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office told Judge Juan Merchan. Prosecutors argue that Trump made ten posts on his Truth Social platform that violated the order, which bars him from commenting on potential witnesses or jurors in his upcoming criminal trial. Judge Merchan has yet to rule on the matter but did not appear moved by the prosecution’s arguments. Trump’s attorneys are expected to provide a detailed timeline of Trump’s Truth Social posts to prove he did not violate the order.
