The Manhattan district attorney’s office rested its case against former President Donald J. Trump after 15 days of testimony from 20 witnesses. The defense began by trying to discredit star witness Michael D. Cohen, but quickly encountered difficulties with their second witness, Robert Costello. Justice Merchan scolded Costello for his conduct on the stand, threatening to remove his testimony if he did not comply with proper decorum. Prosecutors sought to introduce a photograph to support Cohen’s testimony about a phone call he had with Trump regarding a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels. Defense lawyers had mixed results in their attempts to cast doubt on Cohen’s credibility, but managed to get him to admit to stealing from the Trump Organization.
Cohen remained surprisingly steady on the stand, admitting to his past wrongdoings without losing his temper. He also revealed a financial interest in the case’s outcome, as a Trump acquittal would provide him with more material for his podcast and other ventures. The trial, which had been moving quickly, slowed down when Justice Merchan announced that closing arguments would be delayed until after Memorial Day. The defense is expected to rest soon, with closing arguments scheduled for May 28, giving both sides time to prepare their final arguments and jurors ample time to deliberate.
The former president is facing charges of falsifying 34 business records related to the reimbursement of a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels. Trump has denied the charges and his defense team has been working to cast doubt on the prosecution’s evidence and witnesses. The prosecution has been trying to establish Cohen’s credibility as a witness, despite the defense’s attempts to undermine him. The introduction of a photograph to support Cohen’s testimony about a phone call with Trump highlights the importance of his credibility in the case.
The defense’s attempts to muddy the waters by raising questions about other calls Cohen made to Trump were largely unsuccessful, as Cohen remained steadfast in his recollection of the conversations. However, they did succeed in getting Cohen to admit to stealing $30,000 from the Trump Organization, painting him in a negative light. Despite these challenges, Cohen remained composed on the stand and continued to provide testimony that could be crucial to the outcome of the trial. The delay in closing arguments provides both sides with additional time to prepare and jurors with the opportunity to thoroughly deliberate on the evidence presented in the case.
