Donald Trump's attorney Todd Blanche delivered the defense's potentially pivotal closing argument in the former president's historic criminal hush money trial Tuesday.
Blanche argued that the hush money payment to p*rn star Stormy Daniels was the product of "an extortion" rather than attempt to influence the 2016 election. He also contended that Trump lacked the necessary "intent to defraud" when he listed his reimbursem*nts to his lawyer Michael Cohen, who paid Daniels, as legal expenses.
Blanche also made reference to the prospect of Trump going to jail if he is convicted, which Judge Juan Merchan called "outrageous," after jurors left the room.
"It's hard for me to imagine how that was accidental in any way," the judge said, adding that he will give an instruction to jurors to disregard the comment.
Prosecutors will begin delivering their closing argument when court resumes after lunch.
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Trump is facing 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal another crime.
After closing arguments, Judge Juan Merchan will deliver instructions to jurors on the law they must apply in the case.
The arguments – also referred to as "summations" – allow the two sides to bring together the vast amount of testimony and evidence jurors have taken in over five weeks. Prosecutors will argue that the evidence establishes beyond any reasonable doubt that Trump falsified business records in order to conceal or commit another crime, while the defense team will say it comes up short.
Follow USA TODAY's live updates from inside and outside the Manhattan courtroom:
10 reasons why there is reasonable doubt: Trump lawyer
Trump lawyer Todd Blanche ended his closing argument by offering ten reasons for reasonable doubt in the case.
Blanche argued the evidence didn't show Trump was aware or responsible for invoices, vouchers, and checks that make up the 34 allegedly falsified records in the case.
Blanche also targeted allegations he expects the prosecution to make in its closing about Trump's intent. He said Trump had no intention to defraud, and no intention to commit or conceal another crime. Prosecutors have to prove both those elements of Trump's intent.
Blanche also said there was no illegal agreement to influence the 2016 election through a "catch-and-kill" scheme.
Blanche argued that Stormy Daniels' allegation of an affair with Trump was already public by 2016. Testimony at trial discussed the publication of a rumor about it as far back as 2011.
Blanche also said evidence in the case had been manipulated. He noted, for example, testimony of an Oct. 15, 2016 factory reset of Cohen's phone.
The tenth and final reason for reasonable doubt, Blanche said, is that Cohen – who testified to various aspects of the prosecution's case – is a liar.
– Aysha Bagchi
'He's literally like an MVP of liars': Trump lawyer on Michael Cohen
Trump lawyer Todd Blanche accused the prosecution of being "perfectly willing" to have a witness commit perjury and lie to the jurors. Judge Juan Merchan sustained an objection to that accusation.
"He's literally like an MVP of liars," Blanche said as he continued to target Cohen.
"He lies to reporters, he lies to federal judges. In fact, he's also a thief. He literally stole," Blanche said, referencing Cohen's own admission to stealing from the Trump Organization by claiming a larger reimbursem*nt than he was owed for a payment unrelated to the Daniels hush money deal.
Blanche then played an audio recording for jurors showing Cohen's animus toward Trump. Cohen described picturing Trump getting booked and finger printed on criminal charges, and having a mug shot taken. It "fills me with delight," Cohen said. Cohen also thanked the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, including its "fearless leader," Alvin Bragg.
– Aysha Bagchi
'That was a lie, and he got caught red-handed': Trump lawyer on Cohen
Near the end of his closing argument, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche focused on the prosecution's star witness: Michael Cohen. Blanche told jurors they "only know from one source" what Trump knew in 2016 – Cohen. Prosecutors have alleged Trump knew about and authorized a October 2016 hush money payment to p*rn star Stormy Daniels.
Blanche elevated his voice as he attacked the former Trump lawyer and fixer, noting text messages indicating that a call from Cohen to Trump's bodyguard on Oct. 24, 2016 was to discuss harassing phone calls Cohen was getting. Cohen had earlier testified the call was to get Trump on the phone to provide an update on the Stormy Daniels hush money deal. After Blanche showed Cohen the text messages on cross-examination, Cohen said he believed the call was also about the deal.
"It was a lie!" Blanche exclaimed to jurors on Tuesday. "This was a lie about the charged conduct involving Ms. Daniels," he said.
"That was a lie, and he got caught red-handed," Blanche continued.
"That is per-jur-y," Blanche said, putting emphasis on each syllable in the last word.
– Aysha Bagchi
Blanche distances Trump from Daniels hush money and election concerns
Before his closing ended, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche questioned prosecutors' suggestion that Trump would have paid hush money to Stormy Daniels because of the 2016 election, as well as their claim that Trump actually authorized the payment.
Blanche said no one wants their family to hear these sort of allegations.
Blanche also said the release of the Access Hollywood tape – in which Trump crudely described groping women's genitals – wasn't the "doomsday event" the prosecution made it out to be. "He never thought it was gonna cause him to lose the campaign. And indeed, it didn't," Blanche said.
"Michael Cohen, however, had a different view," Blanche argued to jurors. He noted Cohen said the tape "was catastrophic."
These arguments from Blanche may have two aims:
- Encouraging jurors to believe Cohen acted alone, and
- Encouraging jurors to believe that, if they conclude Trump authorized the payment, it wasn't for the election, and therefore wasn't an unlawful campaign contribution.
Prosecutors have suggested the tape's release put pressure on the Trump campaign to not let any more stories get out that could hurt Trump's standing with women voters. That, according to prosecutors, was added incentive to quiet Stormy Daniels with a hush money payment.
– Aysha Bagchi
'No evidence' but Cohen's words that Trump knew about 2016 hush money deal: defense lawyer
There is "no evidence," Trump lawyer Todd Blanche said, "except for Mr. Cohen's words that President Trump knew about that agreement in 2016."
Blanche was referencing the $130,000 hush money deal involving p*rn star Stormy Daniels.
Blanche pointed to a text exchange between Daniels' then-manager Gina Rodriguez and former National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard, in which Rodriguez asked if Howard was working "in favor" of Trump and Howard said he was not. Howard acknowledged in the text exchange that his CEO endorsed Trump.
– Aysha Bagchi
'Nothing sinister': Blanche defends hush money practice
"There's nothing wrong with a non-disclosure agreement," Blanche told jurors. "There's nothing illegal, there's nothing sinister about it," he added.
Prosecutors in this case don't dispute that claim generally, but they say the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels is different because it allegedly violated federal campaign finance laws.
– Aysha Bagchi
Judge rejects gag request in Trump’s classified documents case
The federal judge in former President Donald Trump'sclassified documents caserejected an urgent request from prosecutors to prohibit him fromcommenting on FBI agentswho seized the records at Mar-a-Lago.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon foundJustice Department special counsel Jack Smith's request Friday lacked “professional courtesy" for not meeting with Trump’s team first to discuss the defense’s concerns.
Smith's teamhad askedCannonon Fridayto prohibit Trump from commentingabout law enforcement agents after Trump claimed the FBI “was authorized to shoot me” and agents were “locked &loaded ready to take me out” when they went to Mar-a-Lago.
Trump’s lawyers, who were preparing for final arguments in his New York hush money case, asked to meet Monday before prosecutors filed their motion. After being rejected, defense lawyers on Monday asked Cannon to hold prosecutors in contempt for the request. She rejected that request.
“This is bad-faith behavior, plain and simple,” Trump’s lawyers Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and Christopher Kise wrote.
– Bart Jansen
'This started out as an extortion': Blanche on Stormy Daniels
Blanche played for jurors a recording of a conversation between Michael Cohen and Keith Davidson, the lawyer who negotiated the hush money deal for Stormy Daniels. Davidson says during the recording that Daniels told him he "better settle this God damn story" because if Trump loses the election, "we lose all (expletive) leverage."
Daniels testified at trial that she never yelled at Davidson and, on the recording, it sounded to her like he is making a threat.
You can listen to the recording here:
Blanche suggested to jurors that Daniels has been cashing in on her allegations about Trump, noting she has a book.
"This started out as an extortion. There's no doubt about that. And it ended very well for Ms. Daniels, financially speaking," Blanche said.
– Aysha Bagchi
'He was shocked': Defense's take on secret recording by Cohen of Trump
Trump lawyer Todd Blanche reminded jurors of a recording they heard during the trial, which Michael Cohen testified involved a discussion between him and Trump about a hush money deal with former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
You can listen to the recording here:
Cohen testified that he secretly recorded Trump in order to reassure David Pecker, whose media company paid McDougal $150,000, that he would get his money back.
"There is a lot of dispute about that recording. A lot," Blanche told jurors Tuesday. He added that the government hasn't shown the recording is reliable.
Blanche played a portion of the recording that he said featured the voice of Rhona Graff, Trump's former executive assistant. He then told jurors the government didn't ask her a single question about the recording, even though she testified.
"The recording cuts off, as you know," Blanche said. He said there is "no doubt" the recording features discussion of David Pecker and his media company, but said there is "a lot of doubt" about whether it discussed McDougal.
When Trump asks about financing in the recording, "he has no idea" what Cohen is talking about, Blanche said. Cohen and Trump are "literally talking past each other about what is going on," he said.
"He was shocked," Blanche added, speaking about his client.
– Aysha Bagchi
Biden and Trump campaigns conduct dueling news conferences
Another political first for the Trump hush money trial: Dueling news conferences by the presidential campaigns.First, the Biden team produced surrogates who denounced Trump to reporters stationed across the street from the courthouse.
“He wants to sow total chaos,” said Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro. The Biden campaign said their news conference wasn’t about the hush money trial per se, but about Trump himself, particularly his role in the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021.
Other speakers included two Capitol police officers who were injured in the Jan. 6 riot, Michael Fanone and Harry Dunn.
“Those supporters were fueled by Trump’s lies,” Fanone said.
After watching the Biden proceedings from a distance, a trio of Trump aides took to the microphones to accuse the Biden people of political desperation over the trial.
“Why is Joe Biden now making this a campaign event?” said Trump senior adviser Jason Miller.
This was the first time that top Trump and Biden officials faced off in the same place at the same time, but it won’t be the last; there’sa June 27 debate coming up in Atlanta.
– David Jackson
'Makes no sense': Blanche attacks election conspiracy claim
Trump lawyer Todd Blanche told jurors he doesn't think they need to address whether Trump participated in a conspiracy to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election. That allegation from prosecutors has to do with why Trump has been charged with felony counts of falsifying records – but it's irrelevant to the charges if jurors conclude Trump never falsified records to begin with.
Still, Blanche challenged the suggestion that Trump engaged in an election-related conspiracy. He said "sophisticated people" like Trump and David Pecker – the former head of the National Enquirer's parent company – couldn't have believed they were able to influence the election through the publication's limited circulation when "millions and millions of people voted in the 2016 election."
The idea that an August 2015 meeting was going to influence the election "makes no sense," Blanche added. Pecker and Cohen both testified to having a meeting with Trump at Trump Tower that month to discuss how they could snap up potentially damaging stories to Trump's campaign and also publish negative stories about Trump's political opponents.
– Aysha Bagchi
Actor Robert DeNiro calls Trump a ‘clown’ and ‘buffoon’ outside courthouse
Actor Robert DeNiro, flanked by former Capitol Police officers who defended the building on Jan. 6, 2021, called former President Donald Trump a “clown,” a “buffoon” and a “joke” outside the courthouse where Trump is on trial.
“He wants to sow total chaos,” said DeNiro, a surrogate for President Joe Biden who grew up in New York City. “He’ll use violence against anyone who stands in the way of his megalomania and greed. But it’s a coward’s violence.”
DeNiro noted Trump was found liable for sexual abuse and for misstating the value of his real estate. But DeNiro said over the shouts of hecklers and the honking of a car on the street outside the courthouse that Trump must be defeated or he would never leave the White House again.
“When Trump ran in 2016, it was like a joke, this buffoon running for president,” DeNiro said. “With Trump, we have a second chance and no one is laughing now. This is the time to stop him by voting him out once and for all.”
DeNiro was joined by Harry Dunn and Michael Fanone, two of the Capitol police officers who were injured defending the building when a mob of Trump supporters rioted and interrupted Congress certifying Biden’s 2020 win against Trump.
“These guys are the true heroes,” DeNiro said. “They stood and put their lives on the line for these lowlifes, for Trump.”
– Bart Jansen
Blanche says Trump didn't have an intent to defraud
Trump lawyer Todd Blanche said he expects Judge Merchan to instruct jurors that, to find Trump guilty, they must conclude he falsified records and that he had an intent to defraud when he did so.
Blanche pointed to a 2018 tweet by Trump, in which Trump mentioned a retainer agreement with Cohen. A legal retainer is a compensation agreement that reserves a lawyer or pays for future services. Cohen submitted several invoices in 2017 – which form part of the allegedly falsified records in the case – referencing a retainer. Cohen testified no retainer actually existed.
Blanche said Trump wouldn't have posted that tweet if he had any intent to defraud.
– Aysha Bagchi
Blanche says almost no evidence of planned tax crime
To find Trump guilty of the 34 felony counts in the case, the jurors must find not only that Trump falsified the 34 records, but also that he did so in order to commit or conceal another crime.
One of the theories the prosecution advanced about that purpose before trial was that the falsified records were covering up a plan to violate New York tax laws. The prosecution has also said there was a plan to violate New York election laws, and that the allegedly falsified records were hiding the violation of federal campaign finance laws through the hush money to Stormy Daniels.
The only evidence of a tax purpose for how payments to Cohen were recorded, according to Blanche, was former Trump Organization executive Allen Weisselberg saying the payments were grossed up. "Is there any other proof of that? Any other evidence? No, there's none," Blanche asked and answered.
– Aysha Bagchi
'Case Turns On Cohen': Trump lawyer attacks Michael Cohen's credibility
Trump lawyer Todd Blanche displayed a portion of the transcript of Michael Cohen's testimony with a header above it titled: "Case Turns On Cohen."
The transcript excerpt featured Cohen saying he was in a meeting with Trump and former Trump Organization executive Allen Weisselberg, when Weisselberg allegedly said they would pay Cohen for the Stormy Daniels hush money, as well as for another expense and a bonus, over 12 months.
Cohen didn't even pretend to be part of that conversation, Blanche said – seeming to attack the lack of testimony from Cohen about what he himself said in the meeting. Blanche characterized it as weak evidence from the government about Trump's role in the alleged repayment scheme.
– Aysha Bagchi
Blanche says lack of testimony from Trump sons Eric and Don Jr. is reason to acquit
Blanche argued that the lack of testimony from Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump – who are seated in the audience today – is a reason to acquit Trump. The two Trump sons were running Trump business operations during their father's presidency, and allegedly signed two checks that make up two of the 34 records that their father is allegedly responsible for falsifying.
"That is reasonable doubt," Blanche said.
The Trump defense team, like the prosecution, didn't call the two Trump sons to the stand, although it did call two other witnesses.
"We have no burden to do anything," Blanche said, emphasizing the prosecution chose to call Michael Cohen but not the sons.
– Aysha Bagchi
Supreme Court rejects appeal from Stormy Daniels' former lawyer Michael Avenatti
Outside of the Manhattan courtroom today, the Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Stormy Daniels' former lawyer Michael Avenatti.
The disgraced California lawyer represented Daniels in her 2018 lawsuits against Trump.
The Supreme Court denied the appeal of his 2020 conviction for an extortion scheme in which he tried to get up to $25 million from shoemaker Nike.
Avenatti is also serving sentences on two other convictions tied to stealing profits from Daniels' book, cheating clients out of millions of dollars, and failing to pay taxes.
– Kinsey Crowley &Maureen Groppe
'That's a red flag': Blanche argues lack of evidence on vouchers
Trump lawyer Todd Blanche told jurors there is "no evidence" Trump knew anything about the Trump Organization's voucher system. "No evidence - not a single word," Blanche added.
This is a reference to a portion of the 34 records that Trump is allegedly responsible for falsifying. The vouchers were the digital entries in general ledgers at the Trump Organization that labeled payments to Michael Cohen as legal expenses.
Blanche said he doesn't know how the government is going to address the alleged lack of evidence, but told jurors to be skeptical if prosecutor Joshua Steinglass reads quotes from a decades-old Trump book. During the trial, the prosecution brought in two book publishers who read excerpts from Trump's books.
"You should be suspicious. That's a red flag," Blanche said.
– Aysha Bagchi
'The bookings were accurate': Trump lawyer defends records
Trump lawyer Todd Blanche noted his client was in the White House at the time of the alleged records falsifications, arguing there wasn't evidence that Trump "had anything to do" with how payments to Michael Cohen were recorded on a ledger.
Cohen testified that Trump was in a meeting with him and former Trump Organization executive Allen Weisselberg about how to reimburse Cohen for the $130,000 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. "He approved it," Cohen told jurors about Trump. According to prosecutors, the reimbursem*nt payments were falsely recorded as 2017 legal expenses.
Blanche defended the accuracy of the records on Tuesday.
"The bookings were accurate and there was absolutely no intent to defraud," Blanche said.
– Aysha Bagchi
'This case is about documents': Trump lawyer to jurors
Trump lawyer Todd Blanche noted to jurors that Trump doesn't face any charges for allegedly having a sexual encounter with p*rn star Stormy Daniels in 2006 – an allegation Trump denies.
"This case is about documents. It's a paper case," Blanche said. "This case is not about an encounter with Stormy Daniels 18 years ago," he added.
Still, Blanche took the time to dispute Daniels' story, saying Trump has "unequivocally and repeatedly" denied the alleged encounter happened.
– Aysha Bagchi
Biden campaign to hold courthouse news conference
Another interested party is visiting the scene outside the Trump trial courthouse: The Joe Biden presidential campaign.
“The Biden-Harris campaign will hold a press conference with special guests outside of the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse,” said an e-mailed announcement.
Among the spectators awaiting the Biden campaign news conference: Officials with the Trump campaign, who said they will be responding afterward.
– David Jackson
'President Trump is innocent': Trump lawyer attacks prosecution's case
"President Trump is innocent," defense lawyer Todd Blanche said early into his closing argument. "He did not commit any crimes," Blanche added. "The district attorney has not met their burden of proof – period."
Blanche told the jurors they "should want and expect more than the testimony of Michael Cohen," referring to Trump's former lawyer, who was the prosecution's star witness. Blanche also said the jurors should want more than the testimony of Deborah Tarasoff, a Trump Organization employee who testified about invoices and checks that are at the core of the 34 felony counts Trump faces.
Blanche also referenced Stormy Daniels without using her name – telling jurors they should want more than a woman saying something happened in 2006. Daniels said she and Trump had a sexual encounter that year, after meeting at a celebrity golf tournament.
Blanche also told jurors they should want more than the testimony of former Daniels lawyers Keith Davidson, who testified about her $130,000 hush money deal. Davidson was "just trying to extort money" from Trump ahead of the 2016 election, Blanche said.
The consequence of those defects in the prosecution's case, Blanche said, "is a not guilty verdict, period."
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump proclaims innocence before attending closing arguments
Former President Donald Trump continued to profess his innocence before closing arguments in his New York hush money trial, arguing “there is no crime” and “hopefully it doesn’t work out for them.”
Trump is charged with falsifying business records to hide his reimbursem*nt to former lawyer Michael Cohen for his $130,000 payment to silence p*rn actress Stormy Daniels, to prevent another salacious story before the 2016 election.
Trump, who didn’t testify in his own defense, argued to reporters outside the courtroom that there is nothing wrong with securing a nondisclosure agreement. Trump also argued any personal payment couldn’t have violated campaign finance law.
“It’s a very sad day,” Trump said. “This is a dark day for America.”
– Bart Jansen
Low-key demonstrations outside the NYC courthouse
About 50-60 people shuttled into and out of the small park across from the courthouse as lawyers inside prepared their final arguments.
Most of the early witnesses were anti-Trump, but a contingent of more than 20 supporters showed up to support the former president as he traveled to the courthouse.
“We wanted to let him know that people in New York support him,” said a Trump flag-carrying man with a white beard and a red suit who identified himself as “Hungry Santa” (he produced a business card with that name).Other demonstrators made clear they did not support Trump.
Brad McCormick, 38, an educational consultant from Brigantine, N.J., hawked copies of a game book called “Trump Madness.” Readers are presented with outrageous quotes on a variety of topics, and asked if Trump really said those things (in many cases, the answer is yes).
McCormick also said he came to the courthouse out of a “sense of duty.”
“You’ve got to do something,” he said.
– David Jackson
Tiffany Trump, Don Jr., Eric attend closing arguments
Three of former President Donald Trump’s children – Donald Jr., Eric and Tiffany – accompanied him to the closing arguments Tuesday in his New York hush money trial.
Trump’s daughter in law, Lara Trump, who is co-chair of the Republican National Committee, also attended.
A parade of SUVs delivered Trump’s entourage to the local courthouse on the sunny, 70-degree morning, a day after the Memorial Day holiday.
– Bart Jansen
Trump lawyer begins by thanking jurors
Trump lawyer Todd Blanche began his closing argument by thanking the jurors, noting that they have consistently arrived on time for the trial.
– Aysha Bagchi
Prosecution plans lengthy closing argument
Trump lawyer Todd Blanche estimated his side's closing argument will last about 2.5 hours. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said the length of his argument may change based on what comes up in the defense's argument, but gave an estimate of 4-4.5 hours.
Judge Merchan said those estimates mean arguments and instructions may not conclude by the normal end time of 4:30 p.m. EDT and he will check whether jurors are able to stay later.
– Aysha Bagchi
Judge Merchan arrives in courtroom
Judge Juan Merchan entered the courtroom at 9:31 a.m. EDT. Merchan said he sent his proposed jury instructions to both trial teams on Thursday.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump arrives in courtroom
Former President Donald Trump arrived in the courtroom at 9:25 a.m. EDT. We are still waiting for the judge and jury.
– Aysha Bagchi
Alvin Bragg in attendance for closing arguments
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg entered the courtroom at 9:24 a.m. EDT. Bragg has attended some previous days of trial. He is seated in the second row of benches behind the prosecution team.
– Aysha Bagchi
Prosecution arrives for closing arguments
The prosecution team entered the courtroom at about 9:14 a.m. EDT. We are still waiting on Trump's trial team as well as the judge and the jury.
– Aysha Bagchi
What time does the Trump trial start today?
Proceedings are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT.
– Kinsey Crowley
What to expect in closing arguments
Closing arguments offer each side a chance to go over evidence from the trial and make arguments about the inferences and conclusions that may fairly be drawn from that evidence.
Prosecutors may point to checks with Trump's signatures, excerpts from Trump's books, and recordings introduced at trial in order to bolster the testimony of star witness Michael Cohen, who testified that Trump authorized him to pay Stormy Daniels hush money in 2016 and approved a plan to cover it up in 2017.
The defense is likely to attack the credibility of Cohen, including by highlighting that he previously pleaded guilty to lying to Congress. Trump's team may also point to the high burden of proof prosecutors face: prosecutors must prove each element of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
– Aysha Bagchi
Who goes first in closing arguments?
Under New York law, the defense team gives its closing argument first, followed by the prosecution. After both sides have spoken to the jurors, Judge Juan Merchan will instruct them on the law to apply in the case.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump rails against trial, quotes scripture
Former President Donald Trump posted a series of messages Monday, on the eve of closing arguments in his New York hush money trial, railing against the case as election interference and quoting scripture.
Besides criticizing Judge Juan Merchan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Trump questioned why the prosecution gets the final word before jury deliberations. Typically in summing up the evidence in a case, prosecutors make their statements, defense lawyers speak and prosecutors get a final rebuttal because they have the burden of proving their case.
“Big advantage, very unfair,” Trump said in an all-caps post on Truth Social.
Trump also quoted a passage from the book of John in the Bible about personal sacrifice. Trump and his supporters have described his four criminal cases as political persecution.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,” the post said.
– Bart Jansen
Could Trump go to prison?
Each count against Trump carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison and no minimum amount of jail or prison time. If Trump is convicted on all counts, Merchan will be tasked with deciding on a sentence for each count, and also deciding whether the sentences will coincide with each other or be run one after the other. However, New York law caps sentences for Class E felonies such as those Trump is charged withat 20 years.
Legal experts told USA TODAY it's possible Trump could get just probation, even if he were convicted on every count. Most predicted any incarceration sentence on each count would run simultaneously with the others, so Trump wouldn't be ordered to serve more than four years behind bars. Experts also said Trump would likely be free while his expected appeal ran its course.
– Aysha Bagchi
What is Trump on trial for?
Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in order to conceal or commit another crime. The records – including checks, vouchers, and invoices – all relate to payments to former Trump lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen in 2017. Prosecutors say the payments were reimbursing Cohen for $130,000 in hush money to p*rn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, but the records were falsified to make the payments look like 2017 legal expenses.
Prosecutors say Trump was covering up the violation of federal campaign finance laws through the hush money, which was handed over less than two weeks before the 2016 presidential election. They also say Trump was trying to hide a plan to violate New York tax and election laws.
Trump has pleaded not guilty, and Trump defense lawyer Todd Blanche has denied the payments were reimbursing the hush money.
– Aysha Bagchi
Why does Trump's team say the case should be dismissed?
Judge Juan Merchan may issue a ruling today on Trump's request to toss out the entire case ahead of jury deliberations.
Trump lawyer Todd Blanche told Merchan that prosecutors haven't put on enough evidence for the case to go to the jury because the business records at issue weren't false. He said documents show Trump was paying Michael Cohen for ongoing legal services in 2017. Blanche also said the prosecution's case shouldn't be able to stand given Cohen's history of lying, including – according to the Trump defense lawyer – during this trial.
– Aysha Bagchi
