Closing arguments in former President Donald Trump’s criminal hush money case kicked off on Tuesday morning in Manhattan.
In order to convict the former president, prosecutors need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump falsified records to conceal a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, before the 2016 election to silence her about an alleged affair with Trump in 2006.
According to Fox News, Judge Juan Merchan expects the defense and prosecution’s closing arguments to last the day. A verdict may potentially be delivered as early as this week.
Trump was joined at the courthouse by Eric Trump, Don Jr., Tiffany Trump, and Laura Trump.
Merchan also must hand down a ruling on Trump’s most recent motion to dismiss from the defense. Trump’s legal team had filed the motion last week.
Defense attorneys motioned for dismissal after Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney and the prosecution’s “star witness,” finished his testimony.
Cohen testified that he personally made the $130,000 payment to Daniels using a home equity line of credit in an effort to conceal the payment from his wife. Cohen said he did this because Trump told him to “handle it” and prevent a negative story from coming out ahead of the election.
But Trump’s defense attorneys maintained that the president never directed Cohen to do so.
The prosecution presented Cohen with 11 checks totaling $420,000. Cohen confirmed that they were all received and deposited. The checks had a description of a “retainer,” which Cohen said was false.
But Trump defense attorney Todd Blanche asked for an immediate order of dismissal, saying there is “no evidence” that the filings or business records at the center of the case were false, that there are “absolutely no false business filings.”
Blanche said there is no dispute that Cohen acted as a personal attorney for Trump in 2017 and that there is no evidence or intent by Trump to mislead, hide or falsify business records.
