Closing arguments in Donald Trump‘s historic hush money trial ended Tuesday evening in a Manhattan courtroom. This was the last chance for both prosecutors and defense attorneys to present their cases before the jury begins deliberations.
Defense lawyer Todd Blanche spoke for about three hours in the morning, while prosecutor Joshua Steinglass spoke for over five hours. The court session extended until 8 p.m., longer than usual.
The jury will now decide whether to convict the former U.S. president of felony criminal charges related to hush money payments aimed at protecting his 2016 presidential campaign from potential damaging stories.
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Central to the charges are reimbursements paid to Michael Cohen for a $130,000 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, a porn actor. Prosecutors allege that these payments were falsely recorded as “legal expenses” to conceal the true nature of the transactions.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records, which carry a maximum sentence of four years in prison.
The case is the first of Trump’s four indictments to go to trial, occurring as he seeks to return to the White House in opposition to Democrat Joe Biden.
The other cases involve charges of unlawfully hoarding classified documents at his estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and engaging in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. It remains uncertain if these cases will proceed to trial before the November election.
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Closing Arguments Conclude
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass concluded his summation by urging the jury to find Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records.
“Donald Trump cannot commit a crime in broad daylight and escape punishment,” Steinglass said, echoing a past remark by Trump, which prompted an objection from Trump’s attorney. The objection was upheld.
During his summation, Steinglass hurried through the timeline of events covered in the hush money trial, emphasizing key points. As the 8 p.m. court deadline approached, Steinglass acknowledged that his summation was lengthy.
He expressed appreciation to the jurors for their patience and told them that they had only one opportunity to make their case. Steinglass spoke for over five hours, while Todd Blanche, representing Trump, spoke for about three hours.
Judge Juan Merchan informed the jury that he would provide them with instructions on Wednesday before they commenced deliberations. Court would start at 10 a.m. on Wednesday and continue until 4:30 p.m., with the schedule subject to change as the week progressed.
Following the long day of summations, the former president opted not to address the press as usual in the courthouse hallway.
Prosecution Cites Intimidation by Trump Before Final Recess
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass displayed Donald Trump’s social media posts attacking his former lawyer Michael Cohen after Cohen turned against him, alleging that these posts were intended not only to punish Cohen but also to warn other potential witnesses of the consequences of cooperating.
He also mentioned lawsuits that Trump filed against Cohen and Daniels as further examples of intimidation.
Steinglass highlighted a related argument regarding threats Daniels claimed to have faced after going public, prompting an objection from Trump’s lawyers. However, the judge instructed Steinglass to move on.
The prosecution’s summation, which started around 2 p.m., continued until 7 p.m., forcing the court to end its session as per the jury’s availability.
Judge Merchan reminded Steinglass of the 8 p.m. cut-off time for proceedings, emphasizing that jurors could work until then but not beyond. He advised Steinglass to wrap up his presentation promptly once the time arrived.
As the session resumed, Steinglass thanked the jury for their patience and attention.
Jurors left the courtroom looking tired yet satisfied after a long day of presentations.
Post the unusually extended court session, the former president refrained from speaking to the press outside the courtroom.
Prosecution Highlights Alleged Efforts to Conceal Payments to Cohen
During the closing arguments in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass claimed that Michael Cohen did minimal work for Trump in 2017 despite receiving checks.
Trump’s defense contends that the payments were for legal services Cohen provided that year. However, Steinglass pointed out that Cohen testified to only about 10 hours of legal work that year.
Steinglass referenced a 2018 tweet by Trump in which the former president referred to the arrangement with Cohen as “reimbursement,” asserting it was unrelated to his campaign.
The prosecutor argued that while the payments did not originate from campaign funds, they were directly linked to the campaign. He contested the defense’s assertion that the payments were for legal services based on Trump’s failure to pay Cohen anything in 2018, despite him providing legal work.
Steinglass suggested that it was implausible for Trump’s company finance chief and Cohen to have devised the payment plan independently. He indicated that Trump would have been involved in the decision-making process, rather than staying uninformed about signing off on $35,000 checks to Cohen.
“Do not fall for the false narrative presented by the defense that the payments to Cohen in 2017 were for legal services rendered; admitting otherwise would acknowledge the falsified business records, something they are unwilling to do,” Steinglass argued.
He also emphasized that the defense’s portrayal of the payments to Cohen is undermined by the fact that Trump did not compensate Cohen in 2018, despite him being involved in legal work for Trump that year.
Prosecution Shifts Focus to Stormy Daniels Payment
As closing arguments resumed in Donald Trump’s trial, Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass transitioned from discussing the hush money agreements before the 2016 election to the alleged effort to disguise the reimbursement to Michael Cohen for the Stormy Daniels payment.
Steinglass contended that the case presents “smoking guns” in the form of handwritten notations by Allen Weisselberg and Jeffrey McConney.
These notes show calculations related to the payments Cohen received in 2017, covering reimbursement for the $130,000 payment to Daniels, among other financial arrangements. The prosecutor argued that these notes contradict the defense’s claim that the payments were for legal services.
Court Takes a Recess
Court in Donald Trump’s hush money trial took a break just before 5 p.m. for 20 minutes. Judge Juan M. Merchan acknowledged the jurors for extending their availability beyond the usual hours.
He expressed appreciation for jurors accommodating the prolonged court session, assuring them that the trial would wrap up on that day. The judge noted that all jurors appeared attentive and engaged, suggesting that the session would continue as planned.
Merchan consulted with court security officers about the late hours, indicating that state court trials rarely ran as late as 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. Merchan had been working with high-level court security officials to ensure a smooth continuation of the trial.
Prosecution’s Summation Extends Beyond Third Hour
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass continued his summation in Donald Trump’s hush money case, surpassing three hours on Tuesday afternoon as he detailed the exchanges regarding the payoff deal with Stormy Daniels, accompanied by various records, communications, and testimonies to corroborate the allegations.
Meanwhile, Trump was observed listening to Steinglass with his head tilted back and eyes closed, a behavior pattern consistent with his conduct throughout the trial.
Steinglass Connects ‘Access Hollywood’ Tape with Daniels Payment
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass emphasized that to grasp the hush money case against Donald Trump, the jury needed to understand the context surrounding the deal to silence Stormy Daniels, coinciding with the leak of the “Access Hollywood” tape that caused turmoil in the Trump campaign.
He highlighted Trump’s dismissal of the tape as “locker room talk” while simultaneously negotiating a non-disclosure agreement with Daniels, underscoring the contrast in Trump’s public image versus private dealings.
Prosecution Refers to ‘Access Hollywood’ Tape as a ‘Category 5 Hurricane’
Following a brief break in closing arguments, Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass reflected on the impact of the “Access Hollywood” tape’s publication in October 2016, characterizing it as a “Category 5” hurricane that overshadowed other significant events.
Cohen Recording Indicates Trump’s Willingness to Conceal Payment
Prior to a recess on Tuesday, Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass highlighted Michael Cohen’s secret recording, featuring a discussion with Donald Trump about a plan to acquire Karen McDougal’s story, a former model, from the National Enquirer. Steinglass asserted that the recording unequivocally demonstrated Trump’s eagerness to hide the payoff.
Prosecution Counters Defense’s Efforts on Cohen’s Recording
The prosecution challenged the defense’s attempts to undermine a recording made by Michael Cohen in September 2016 of a conversation with Donald Trump, regarding the purchase of the rights to Karen McDougal’s story. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass debunked defense claims that cast doubts on the recording’s credibility, stressing its significance in the trial.
Trump ‘Looming Behind Everything,’ Says Prosecutor
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass contended that playful exchanges between Karen McDougal’s lawyer and the National Enquirer editor about ambassadorships evidenced their recognition of the deal’s political implications. He highlighted that their actions were geared towards helping Trump’s campaign, indicating Trump’s overarching influence in the proceedings.
Prosecution on Catch-and-Kill Allegations
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass delved into the dispute over alleged “catch-and-kill” practices, underscoring that Karen McDougal’s motivations were irrelevant in the case. He emphasized that Trump’s motivations, geared towards benefiting his campaign, were the focal point of the trial.
Case Focuses on Trump, Not Cohen, Says Prosecution
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass dismissed the defense’s attempt to center the hush money case on Michael Cohen, asserting that the case revolved around Donald Trump. He highlighted corroborating testimonies, including those of David Pecker and recorded conversations, as evidence linking Trump to the alleged crimes.
Stormy Daniels Identified as Motive by Prosecution
The prosecution emphasized the importance of Stormy Daniels’ testimony in reinforcing Trump’s incentive to silence her, given her account of a 2006 encounter that could jeopardize his image. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass highlighted that despite the messy nature of Daniels’ story, it underscored the necessity for Trump to secure her silence.
Prosecution Counters Defense’s Discrediting Efforts on Cohen
The prosecution sought to counter the defense’s attempts to discredit Michael Cohen’s testimony, acknowledging his past dishonesty but asserting his reliability in the trial context. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass portrayed Cohen as a valuable witness due to his intimate knowledge of the events and his personal stake in seeking accountability for Trump’s actions.
Extortion Claims Not a Defense, Says Prosecution
The prosecution refuted the defense’s claims that Stormy Daniels engaged in extortion, contending that such allegations do not justify election fraud or falsifying business records. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass stressed that regardless of her motivations, Trump’s actions were aimed at serving his campaign interests.
Prosecution Begins Closing Arguments
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass commenced the closing arguments in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, emphasizing the conspiracy and cover-up at the case’s core. He presented powerful evidence pointing to the former president’s guilt.
Defense Urges Jury for ‘Not Guilty’ Verdict
Defense lawyer Todd Blanche concluded the defense’s summation by encouraging the jury to render a swift “not guilty” verdict, emphasizing that the case’s outcome should be based solely on the evidence presented during the trial.
Blanche Casts Doubt on Cohen’s Credibility
As Todd Blanche neared the end of his summation, he highlighted
