The hush money trial involving ex-President Donald Trump is drawing to a close at Manhattan Supreme Court, New York City. Following crucial testimony from Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney and “fixer”, the prosecution concluded its case on Monday, May 20, 2024. The defense then began its efforts to discredit Cohen and challenge the prosecution’s account.
Cohen, the focal point of the prosecution’s case, underwent four days of testimony. While testifying, he confessed to “stealing” $60,000 from the Trump Organization in 2016 due to a reduction in his yearly bonus, describing it as “self-help.” Cohen further detailed his part in facilitating a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election, allegedly under Trump’s orders.
“My entire life has been turned upside down as a direct result. I lost my law licenses, my business, my financial security,” Cohen stated during his testimony, demonstrating the personal impact the trial has had on him and adding a human element to the trial.
Lawyer Todd Blanche, leading the defense, worked to question Cohen’s trustworthiness. Blanche contested that there were no signs of doctored business records or an intention to scam. “There’s no evidence that there’s any idea or any intent to mislead or to hide or to falsify the business records,” declared Blanche.
The prosecution has leveraged Michael Cohen’s testimony in its case against Trump, who faces 34 felony charges of falsifying business records. These accusations stem from claims that Trump misrepresented payments to Cohen as regular legal costs rather than refunds for the hush money payment to Daniels.
The defense’s cross-examination of Cohen underscored his previous criminal activities, including lying to Congress and financial crimes. Cohen acknowledged that he has earned over $4 million from book and podcast ventures since 2020, a fact the defense utilized to challenge his motivations and credibility.
Robert Costello, Cohen’s former attorney, was summoned by the defense to testify, aiming to contradict Cohen’s allegations. Costello’s testimony was fraught with tension as he referred to Cohen as “a maniac” during their initial interactions, and claimed Cohen had consistently told him that Trump was oblivious to the payment made to Daniels and that Cohen had acted independently. However, Costello’s conduct in court led to disputes with Judge Juan Merchan, who reprimanded him for his behavior.
“Are you staring me down right now?” Judge Merchan inquired of Costello during a tense exchange. The judge briefly cleared the courtroom to admonish Costello, advising him to maintain proper decorum.
Trump has been outspoken regarding the trial, often addressing reporters following court sessions. On Monday, Trump berated Judge Merchan, calling him a “tyrant” and expressing hope that the case would be dismissed. “You saw what we saw. That was an incredible display … a tyrant,” said Trump. He also quoted filmmaker Oliver Stone, describing the trial as an instance of “lawfare,” a reference to Stone’s comments in Cannes for a unique screening of “Lula,” a documentary he co-created with Rob Wilson. It focuses on the remarkable political resurgence of Brazil’s Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva. The movie details his impressive return to the Brazilian presidency in 2022, after he had spent 19 months behind bars. This turnaround came to light following a hacker’s revelations of a plot designed to discredit the labor leader through a corruption scandal, implicating former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and the nation’s top jurist.
Despite Trump’s public remarks, the trial is progressing toward its end. The defense concluded its case on Tuesday, May 21, with closing arguments expected to start after the Memorial Day weekend. The judge suggested that jury deliberations could begin the following week.
The trial has garnered substantial public interest, with regular updates and analyses from various media outlets. Trump, who is also the presumptive GOP nominee for the 2024 presidential election, has used the trial as a stage to galvanize his supporters and denounce his adversaries.
Even outside the courtroom, the trial has continued to draw attention from both supporters and detractors of Trump. Protests were staged outside the courthouse, with anti-Trump protesters at one point overpowering Trump’s supporters. Bernie Kerik, the former New York City Police Commissioner and a longtime Trump ally, was seen outside the courthouse expressing his support for the former president.
