Prosecutors in former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial have wrapped up their case after final witness Michael Cohen testified that Trump was involved in a hush money scheme to cover up allegations of an affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels. Despite speculation, it remains unclear whether Trump will take the stand in his own defense. High-profile potential witnesses such as Trump’s children, wife Melania, Rudy Giuliani, Steve Bannon, and Karen McDougal, were not called to testify during the trial.
Trump’s lawyers will now present their defense, with the possibility of calling few witnesses. There is uncertainty about whether Trump will testify, as he had previously indicated he would. Legal experts believe that Trump testifying could harm his case. Once the defense rests, prosecutors may present rebuttal witnesses before closing arguments take place on May 28. The jury will then deliberate and must find proof beyond a reasonable doubt to convict Trump on the 34 felony charges he faces.
The charges against Trump stem from Cohen’s payment of $130,000 to Stormy Daniels, which Trump reimbursed through a series of checks totaling $420,000 in 2017. Prosecutors argue that the reimbursement checks were falsely labeled while Trump and his lawyers maintain they were correctly labeled as legal payments. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Witnesses throughout the trial’s questioning have testified about the hush money scheme and Cohen’s role in it, with Cohen directly tying Trump to the scheme by claiming he could not have made the payment to Daniels without Trump’s approval.
If convicted, Judge Juan Merchan will determine Trump’s sentence, with legal experts believing that it is unlikely the former president would face prison time as a first-time offender. Throughout the trial, witnesses have detailed conversations between Cohen, Trump, and Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg about the reimbursement scheme and how payments would be labeled. Cohen testified that Trump was present at a meeting where the reimbursement plan was discussed and approved.
The trial has garnered significant attention, with Cohen’s testimony providing crucial evidence linking Trump to the hush money scheme. The defense’s strategy, potential witness list, and the decision of whether Trump will testify are key factors to watch as the trial moves towards closing arguments and a jury verdict. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s potential testimony, the case has shed light on the inner workings of the Trump Organization and the alleged efforts to cover up damaging allegations during the 2016 election.
