Closing Arguments Begin in Trump NY Criminal Trial
Closing arguments began Tuesday in the New York criminal trial for former Pres. Donald Trump with defense attorney Todd Blanche casting doubt on the truthfulness of testimony the jury heard from former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, the prosecution's star witness....
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Facts
- Closing arguments began Tuesday in the New York criminal trial for former Pres. Donald Trump with defense attorney Todd Blanche casting doubt on the truthfulness of testimony the jury heard from former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, the prosecution's star witness.1
- Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, is facing 34 criminal charges related to falsifying business records to classify $310K in payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels as campaign expenses during the leadup to the 2016 presidential election.1
- Trump denies all wrongdoing, including the affair prosecutors allege he had with Daniels and attempted to cover up with a payment made through Cohen. Blanche reiterated the defense's argument that the payments were for legal services.2
- As for Cohen, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to lying to the US Congress, Blanche characterized him as someone who lies 'constantly' and is 'like an MVP of liars.'2
- Blanche also accused Daniels of trying to extort Trump, and declared Trump didn't 'commit any crimes' while the district attorney hasn't 'met their burden of proof.'3
- After Blanche concluded his closing arguments, NY Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass began what was expected to be hours of closing statements for the prosecution. Among his early suggestions was that even if Trump felt victimized by Daniels, that didn't give him the right to 'commit election fraud or falsify' business records.4
Sources: 1NewsNation, 2Al Jazeera, 3Courthouse News Service and 4CNBC.
Narratives
- Anti-Trump narrative, as provided by MSNBC. As Blanche's closing arguments showed, the defense's best chance may be to confuse the jury and sow doubt in the jurors. Leading up to and during the closing arguments, the defense failed to prove Trump's innocence — instead relying on character assassinations of witnesses and defending things that didn't have to do with the alleged crimes. An organized, simplified case made by the prosecution should prevail.
- Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by FOX News. This case never should've made it to trial, but the Democrats' witch hunt against Trump has marched on. There are so many issues that need attention in the US, yet the Biden administration and the Democrats have wasted precious time and resources trying to stop Trump's return to the White House. These are dangerous times in the US.
