“I’ll do anything in the morning and I’ll probably come back in the afternoon, and we’re going to rest pretty quickly. We will rest, that is, we will put an end to the matter. Possibly he wouldn’t rest. “Don’t rest. I wish I could rest sometimes, but I can’t rest, but we do,” Trump added. The defense team ended the case a short time after Trump’s comments, and Merchan dismissed the jury until later. Memorial Day.
Trump’s defense attorney, Todd Blanche, requested a dismissal order on Monday, saying there was no evidence that business records or documents similar to the case were fake. The case itself centers on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. The office of attorney Alvin Bragg will have to prove to the jury that Trump not only falsified business documents such as invoices made to former porn actress Stormy Daniels, but that he did so as part of some other crime: a conspiracy to advertise or save. elections.
ADMISSION TO COHEN’S BOMBSHELL COULD LEAD TO A JURY HOWEVER, IF HE IS NOT ACQUITTED: EXPERT
Former President Trump waves as he leaves Trump Tower on his way to Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, May 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
The prosecution team alleges that Trump falsified business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to Daniels before the 2016 election to silence her allegations of an affair with Trump in 2006. Trump has pleaded not guilty in the case and has denied any affair with Daniels. .
Blanche said there is “absolutely no false industry registration” or evidence of a connection to Trump.
“How on earth is it possible to hide a false story from the criminal electorate?” said Blanche.
NY V TRUMP: MICHAEL COHEN ADMITS TO STEALING TENS OF THOUSANDS FROM FORMER PRESIDENT’S BUSINESS
Mercan said Monday he would rule on the move to remove him at a later date.
The prosecution’s star witness, Michael Cohen, admitted in his testimony Monday that he stole thousands of dollars from the Trump Organization.
Former President Trump speaks to the media outside the courtroom with his attorney, Todd Blanche, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, May 21, 2024. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Cohen, in explosive testimony, revealed that he stole $60,000 from the Trump Organization by exaggerating the amount he paid to a tech company he provided to the company. Cohen said he told the Trump Organization’s former chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, in 2017 that he had paid $50,000 out of pocket to tech company Red Finch and still had to be reimbursed for that payment.
NY V TRUMP: MICHAEL COHEN WITNESS WHO IS CONSIDERING A RUN FOR CONGRESS
Weisselberg and Cohen calculated in 2017 a $420,000 refund to Cohen for his $130,000 payment to Daniels, as well as the alleged $50,000 payment to Red Finch. The payment plan “increased” what Cohen said he paid Daniels and Red Finch, saving him a tax and meaning he can pocket thousands of dollars from Trump Org.
Cohen said receiving the money was “almost like a personal effort” and that he took it because he was “angry” that his annual bonus had been reduced.
NY V TRUMP TO RESUME CONTINUED QUESTIONING OF MICHAEL COHEN AS TRIAL NEARS CONCLUSION
Michael Cohen is questioned by defense attorney Todd Blanche in former President Trump’s felon trial. (Reuters/Jane Rosenberg)
During his testimony Monday, Cohen also said he was contemplating a conceivable run for Congress, saying he possessed “the most productive notoriety ever seen. “
Tuesday, marking the 20th day of hearings in the case, began with continued testimony from defense witness Robert Costello, a former legal representative for Cohen who told a grand jury last year that Cohen was a “serial liar. “
Trump Criticizes New York’s Judicial System, Brags He’s Going to ‘Win’ the Empire State
The courtroom became tense following Costello’s testimony on Monday, and Merchan ordered the media and jury to leave the courtroom after Costello audibly and visibly disapproved of the judge’s rulings that drew multiple objections from the prosecution team.
Robert Costello, center, appears in “America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino. “(Robert Costello/U. S. Newsroom)
“I need to talk about decorum in my courtroom,” Merchan said after the jury left. “You don’t say hit him, because I’m the only one who can hit him. ”
Merchan chided Costello for not rolling his eyes or reacting to his decisions. Before the jury returned to the courtroom, Merchan asked Costello, “Are you down with me?
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Trump said Monday that Merchan could regain his “respect” if he makes the decision to close the case.
“This case should be dropped by the judge. I think the judge, if he did, could just regain respect. The Court of Appeal has to step in, anything has to happen. “Both primaries nominate someone to be their nominee, and that candidate has been sitting here for about five weeks in an ice-cold fridge listening to these things,” Trump said Monday after a hectic day in court.