Donald Trump's defense team concluded the bribery trial this Tuesday (21), without calling the former president of the United States to testify.
Trump's lawyers called two witnesses in his defense. Judge Juan Merchan said jurors would return next Tuesday (28) to hear closing arguments, with deliberations likely to begin the following day.
Trump's lawyers have asked Merchan to dismiss the case before it reaches the jury, arguing that it is based on the testimony of a witness, Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen, who has a well-documented history of lying.
Such dismissal motions are rarely successful, and Merchan indicated on Monday that he was inclined to let jurors assess Cohen's credibility for themselves. Prosecutors say his testimony is bolstered by other evidence.
Cohen, the prosecution's final witness, wrapped up his testimony on Monday, clearing the way for Trump's lawyers to present their own witnesses and evidence.
Attorney Robert Costello, the second witness called by Trump's defense, testified Monday that Cohen told him he had no incriminating information about Trump.
Costello's behavior on the witness stand apparently angered Merchan on Monday. Costello returned to testify this Tuesday, before the defense ended its stage.
Trump is accused of covering up a $130,000 payment that bought the silence of porn star Stormy Daniels, who in the final weeks before the 2016 presidential election was selling her story of a sexual encounter with the then-Republican candidate.
While the payment itself is not illegal, Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal his refund to Cohen, who initially paid for the transaction.
Trump has pleaded not guilty and denies committing any wrongdoing. He says he never had sexual relations with Daniels and has called the trial a politically motivated attempt to undermine his efforts to return to the White House in this year's Nov. 5 election.
Cohen testified that he spoke with Trump several times about paying Daniels in the final stretch of the 2016 presidential campaign, when Trump was facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.
He said Trump feared Daniels would hurt his appeal to female voters if the story became public. The former president's legal team says he made the payment to protect his family from embarrassment.
Cohen admitted on the witness stand Monday that he had stolen money from Trump's businesses, saying he was angry that his bonus was cut after he handled the payment to Daniels.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
