The criminal trial of former President Donald Trump in New York has concluded with testimony from 22 witnesses, including a porn actor, tabloid publisher, and White House insiders. The prosecution called 20 witnesses, while the defense called only two. Trump himself chose not to testify. The trial will now proceed to closing arguments, and then it will be up to the 12 jurors to decide whether Trump falsified his company’s business records as part of an effort to keep stories of marital infidelity from becoming public during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denies any wrongdoing. The records in question include checks sent to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, as well as related invoices and ledger entries.
Key witnesses in the trial included Stormy Daniels, the porn actor who detailed a sexual encounter she says she had with Trump in 2006, leading to a payment of $130,000 to keep it confidential. Daniels testified about her interaction with Trump and her interactions with Cohen and Pecker in relation to the payment. David Pecker, the publisher of the National Enquirer, testified about his role in suppressing damaging stories about Trump during the 2016 campaign. He detailed payments made to ensure stories of Trump’s affairs did not become public.
Another crucial witness was Cohen himself, a central figure in orchestrating the payments to Daniels and McDougal. Cohen testified that he was working at Trump’s direction and that the decision to pay off Daniels was made to prevent negative publicity during the campaign. Cohen provided details about how the payments were made and reimbursed. Hope Hicks, Trump’s former campaign and White House communications director, also testified about the aftermath of the Access Hollywood tape leak and the handling of the hush money payments.
Robert Costello, an attorney and ex-federal prosecutor, was called as the primary witness for Trump’s defense. Costello aimed to undermine Cohen’s credibility by portraying him as working on his own without Trump’s knowledge. Other notable witnesses included Jeffrey McConney, the Trump Organization’s former controller, and Rhona Graff, Trump’s former executive assistant, who testified about the payments made to Cohen and Daniels. Deborah Tarasoff, the Trump Organization’s accounts payable supervisor, and Madeleine Westerhout, Trump’s White House secretary, also provided testimony related to the case.
The trial featured testimony from various witnesses who provided insight into the events surrounding the hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. The prosecution’s case relies heavily on the testimony of key witnesses like Cohen, while the defense has sought to challenge their credibility. The outcome of the trial will hinge on how the jurors interpret the testimony and weigh the evidence presented. Ultimately, the decision on whether Trump is guilty of falsifying business records will rest with the 12 jurors tasked with reaching a unanimous verdict. The closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday, marking the conclusion of this high-profile criminal trial involving the former President.
