In a written online conversation hosted by David French, a Times columnist, Rebecca Roiphe, a former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan district attorney’s office, and Ken White, a former federal prosecutor, discussed Donald Trump’s Manhattan trial and Michael Cohen’s testimony. The prosecution appears more pleased with the direction of the trial than the defense, having established false records and evidence tying Trump to them. Cohen’s testimony is crucial for the prosecution, despite him being a criminal informant, and the defense’s attempts to undermine Cohen’s credibility have been unsuccessful.
Stormy Daniels’s testimony was described as disturbing and potentially exploitative, but necessary to establish the nature of the encounter that Trump denied. The judge denied the defense’s motion for a mistrial following the testimony. Key pieces of Cohen’s testimony involve Trump leading the scheme and directly participating in the cover-up. The defense’s attempts to discredit Daniels and upcoming cross-examination of Cohen may be their best opportunities to score points in the trial.
Justice Juan Merchan, presiding over the trial, is handling the difficult task impartially despite criticism from both sides. The defense is unlikely to call a large number of witnesses, and it’s uncertain if Trump will testify. A political victory for Trump could potentially help him legally in the long run, given the appeal process and the possibility of winning the election. Despite some missteps in the trial, Trump’s brand and character have influenced his legal strategy and public narrative.
The chance of conviction appears to have increased since the trial started, with both Roiphe and White indicating an upsurge in this likelihood. The judge’s gag order on Trump is seen as justified, although it could be debated when it comes to high-profile witnesses like Michael Cohen. As for potential V.P. hopefuls supporting Trump at the trial, the conversation humorously suggests figures like J.D. Vance and Alex Jones, or any cop who has pepper-sprayed student protesters, to make appearances. The ongoing trial raises questions about the implications of a conviction for a former president and the balance between legal strategy and political positioning in high-profile cases.
