In a historic trial, prosecutors urged the court to convict former President Donald Trump for his role in a hush money scandal.
Trump is accused of falsifying records to reimburse his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen $130,000. This payment was allegedly made to silence Stormy Daniels about a purported sexual encounter that could have threatened his 2016 campaign against Hillary Clinton.
Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass presented the prosecution’s closing arguments. He emphasized that the case centred around a conspiracy and cover-up just before the election. “The people have presented powerful evidence of the defendant’s guilt,” Steinglass stated.
Trump’s defence lawyer, Todd Blanche, countered by declaring Trump’s innocence and called for a swift acquittal. He argued that the case was built on falsehoods, particularly pointing out the motivations of Michael Cohen, whom he described as driven by “outright hatred” for Trump.
Blanche attempted to dismiss the charges by explaining that Trump was preoccupied with presidential duties and did not scrutinize the financial details handled by others. “There was no intent to defraud, and beyond that, there was no conspiracy to influence the 2016 election,” Blanche asserted.
However, Steinglass challenged this defence, citing substantial corroborative evidence beyond Cohen’s testimony. He argued, “This case is about Donald Trump and whether he should be accountable for causing false entries in his business records to cover up his election violations.”
As the trial drew immense public and media attention, Trump labelled the proceedings as a “very dangerous day for America” and criticized the justice system, claiming the case was rigged.
Deliberations by the twelve anonymous jurors were set to begin as early as Wednesday, with the outcome expected to add new dynamics to the upcoming presidential race, where polls show Trump closely contesting against President Joe Biden.
Outside the courtroom, actor Robert De Niro, speaking for the Biden campaign, criticized Trump, calling him a “clown” who threatened the nation’s stability.
This trial marks the first time a former or sitting president has faced criminal indictment. Trump is accused not only in this hush money case but also of more severe charges, including mishandling top-secret documents and attempting to overturn the 2020 election.
The case, featuring testimony from over 20 witnesses, including Daniels and Cohen, may conclude by election day. If convicted, Trump could be sentenced but is unlikely to face jail time as a first-time offender. A conviction would still allow him to appear on the November ballot.
Trump did not testify, instead using his court appearances to criticize the proceedings and claim political persecution vehemently. A unanimous verdict is required for conviction; a single dissenting juror could lead to a hung jury and potential retrial.
