Donald Trump did not speak at his secret trial, as jurors may begin deliberating on whether or not he is guilty next week.
Trump, 77, is accused of falsifying business records related to porn star Stormy Daniels’ secret invoices in the run-up to his 2016 presidential campaign.
But on the 20th day of the trial, the former president’s defense rested without calling him to the stand. Instead, former federal prosecutor Robert Costello called as a final witness.
Defense Drops Case Calling Trump
Judge Juan Merchan said he expects closing arguments to take position on May 28. Juries have so far fallen apart and could begin deliberating as soon as next week on whether or not Trump is at fault.
Since the start of the trial in April, Trump had said he would testify in his own defense, though it was rare for defendants to do so.
The former president falsely claimed that a gag order imposed through Judge Merchán prevented him from speaking in court.
“We will rest quickly”
Sky News correspondent James Matthews also heard Trump tell reporters ahead of Tuesday’s debates: “We’ll rest pretty quickly. I probably wouldn’t rest. “
“I don’t rest, I’d like to rest but I can’t rest. “
Prosecutors allege the former president tried to conceal a $130,000 payment to Daniels, who told the court she had a “sexual encounter” with Trump during a celebrity golf outing in Lake Tahoe in July 2006.
While the secret payment itself is not illegal, the former president faces 34 counts of falsifying business documents to conceal his refund from his former lawyer Michael Cohen, who was the first to pay for the transaction.
Cohen testified that several invoices, checks, and stubs were false records to cover bills to Ms. Daniels, and said none of them were for work done in the months to which they corresponded.
Trump has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers say there’s nothing wrong with the deal with Daniels or the way Cohen paid.
Cohen lied his oath
The former president’s defense also sought to discredit Mr. Cohen, who admitted at trial to lying under oath.
Defense attorney Todd Blanche said Monday, “There is no way the court would allow this case to go to a jury based on Cohen’s testimony. “
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Trump’s lawyers also asked Judge Merchan to dismiss the case ahead of jury deliberations, arguing that there is no evidence that Trump committed the crimes.
The ruling did not immediately rule on the defense’s request.
And speaking in front of the courtroom after the defense rested, Donald Trump Jr. defended his father’s decision not to testify and reiterated his claims that the trial was politically motivated.
“Why would you need to justify this madness? You submit to it. You’re going to go to a puppet court, no more, no less,” he said.
“Surely there is no explanation or justification for doing this. Everyone sees this as a farce. “