Donald Trump’s defence team, on Tuesday (May 21) rested its case in the historic hush money trial without calling on the former United States president to testify.
Trump’s lawyers called two witnesses in his defence.
Meanwhile, Justice Juan Merchan said jurors would return a week from now (May 28) to hear closing arguments.
Therefore, prosecutors have supported his testimony with documentary evidence as Trump’s lawyers have sought to undermine Cohen’s credibility.
However, before that Trump’s lawyers will have a chance to present evidence and witnesses of their own.
Donald Trump’s defence team, on Tuesday (May 21) rested its case in the historic hush money trial without calling on the former United States president to testify. Meanwhile, the judge planned jury deliberations for early next week.
Trump opts not to take witness stand
With Trump opting not to testify, his defence was brought to a quick conclusion and paved the way for jurors to begin deliberations.
This comes after the former president had sparked speculation for weeks about whether he would take the stand to defend himself against the charges of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Trump’s lawyers called two witnesses in his defence.
Meanwhile, Justice Juan Merchan said jurors would return a week from now (May 28) to hear closing arguments.
“Next Tuesday...you will hear the summations of the attorneys, you will probably the next day... hear my jury charge and I will expect you will begin your deliberations hopefully at some point on Wednesday,” Judge Merchan told the New York jury, as quoted by AFP.
The jurors would return next Tuesday, following the three-day Memorial Day weekend to hear the closing arguments.
Trump’s lawyers have asked Merchan to dismiss the case before it reaches the jury, saying that the testimony rests on the testimony of ex-lawyer and fixer-turned-foe, Michael Cohen, who has a well-documented history of lying.
While such dismissals are rarely successful, the judge indicated on Monday (May 20) that he was inclined to let jurors assess Cohen’s credibility for themselves.
Trump’s former lawyer, the last and arguably the most important witness for the New York prosecutors, ended his testimony on Monday, where he admitted to stealing from the Trump Organization.
As a convicted felon and admitting that he has repeatedly lied under oath to benefit Trump, Cohen is seen as a problematic witness.
Therefore, prosecutors have supported his testimony with documentary evidence as Trump’s lawyers have sought to undermine Cohen’s credibility.
What next?
After nearly five weeks, 19 witnesses, often salacious testimony, and reams of documents, the judgement day in the first-ever criminal trial of a former US president is close.
However, before that Trump’s lawyers will have a chance to present evidence and witnesses of their own.
The former president has pleaded not guilty to the 34-count indictment brought against him and has also denied having sex with the adult film actor.
