A New York prosecutor told jurors on Tuesday that the hush money payment central to former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial was an attempt to “deceive the American voter” during the 2016 election, as attorneys presented their closing arguments.
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass argued that the $130,000 payment made to ensure porn star Stormy Daniels remained silent about an alleged sexual encounter was part of a broader scheme to suppress stories that could have damaged Trump’s first White House campaign.
“We’ll never know if this attempt to deceive the American voter influenced the election, but that isn’t something we need to prove,” Steinglass stated.
Jurors could start deliberations as soon as Wednesday in the first criminal trial of a U.S. president. The trial was set to resume at 10 a.m. (1400 GMT) with the judge providing instructions to the jury.
Trump, 77, faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal the payment to Daniels. He has pleaded not guilty, denies having sex with Daniels, and appeared unimpressed with Steinglass’s closing argument, writing “BORING!” on social media during a break.
Earlier, Trump’s lawyer advised jurors not to trust the prosecution’s key witness, Michael Cohen. Cohen testified that he paid Daniels out of his own pocket and devised a plan with Trump to be reimbursed through payments disguised as legal fees.
Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche described Cohen, a convicted felon with a history of dishonesty, as untrustworthy, suggesting Cohen lied about his discussions with Trump regarding the payment and reimbursement plan.
“He is literally the greatest liar of all time,” Blanche asserted.
Steinglass countered that Cohen’s dishonesty was influenced by Trump’s malign behavior.
Blanche urged jurors to set aside their personal opinions of Trump, the 2024 Republican presidential candidate, and focus solely on whether the prosecution had proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt, the legal standard in the U.S.
“If you focus just on the evidence you heard in this courtroom, this is a very, very quick-and-easy not guilty verdict,” Blanche claimed.
Steinglass similarly encouraged jurors to disregard the political context of the case. “The law is the law. And it applies to everyone equally. There is no special standard for this defendant,” he concluded.
Judge Juan Merchan then dismissed the jurors for the night, indicating he would instruct them on how to proceed with their deliberations on Wednesday.
If convicted, Trump faces up to four years in prison, though imprisonment is unlikely for a first-time offender convicted of this type of crime.
A conviction would not prevent Trump from running for president against Democratic President Joe Biden in the November 5 election, nor from assuming office if he wins. Polls indicate a close race between the two.
Blanche argued that Daniels attempted to blackmail Trump by threatening to reveal her story during the final weeks of the 2016 election, when he was already facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.
The defense has maintained that Trump approved the hush money payment to avoid embarrassing his family.
Steinglass contended that Trump was more concerned about the impact on his campaign than on his family, adding that it was irrelevant whether Daniels sought a payout, as Trump broke the law by concealing the payment.
“You cannot lie in your business records, and that’s what this case is fundamentally about: cheating,” he said.
Blanche received a reprimand from Judge Merchan for telling jurors the evidence was insufficient to send Trump to prison. Jurors are responsible for determining guilt or innocence, while judges decide the punishment for those convicted.
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