Trump Opts Not to Testify as Defense Rests in Hush Money Trial
By Boniface Ihiasota, USA
In a significant development, former President Donald Trump’s defense team rested its case on Tuesday in his high-profile “hush money” trial, Excel Magazine International reports.
This move signals the beginning of the final chapter before jury deliberations, set to start next week.
Despite speculation that he might testify, Trump ultimately chose not to take the stand.
His defense team called only two witnesses: a legal analyst and attorney Robert Costello.
Costello received a stern reprimand from the judge on Monday but aimed to undermine the credibility of the prosecution’s star witness, Michael Cohen, during his testimony.
Costello testified about his numerous meetings with Cohen, starting in April 2018 after the FBI searched Cohen’s home and office.
He claimed Cohen had assured him that Trump was unaware of the $130,000 payment Cohen made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016.
Cohen, however, testified that Trump knew of a plan to reimburse him for the payment. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records.
Cohen countered Costello’s testimony by stating that he never trusted Costello and had lied to him to protect himself.
With the defense case concluded, the trial will adjourn until next Tuesday, when both sides will present their closing arguments. The jury will then begin its deliberations.
Following Costello’s dismissal, Judge Merchan outlined the upcoming schedule.
The court will reconvene at 2:15 p.m. for a conference where attorneys from both sides will discuss the instructions the judge will give to the jury.
These instructions, known as the jury charge, are crucial as they guide the jury on the legal standards and decision-making processes required for the verdict.
The jury will not be present for this conference.
The jury charge, often extensive, will involve the judge explaining complex legal concepts in layman’s terms.
Both the defense and prosecution will closely scrutinize the judge’s language to ensure it does not prejudice their case.
After the charge conference, the court will adjourn until next Tuesday for closing arguments.
Judge Merchan indicated that these summations would likely consume the entire day.
The court will then reconvene on Wednesday for the judge to deliver the jury charge, expected to take about an hour. Following this, the jury will begin its deliberations.
This case, closely watched nationwide, moves into its final phase as both sides prepare for the decisive arguments and subsequent jury deliberation.
