State Rests Its Case: Day 19 of Trump’s Hush Money Trial

Alright, here’s some takeaways from Trump’s latest courtroom showdown.

Prosecutors just wrapped their case in the trial of Trump.

They pulled out over 200 pieces of “evidence”.

On top of that they hauled in 20 witnesses.

Now, it’s the defense’s turn.

And they’re out to discredit Cohen, which isn’t a hard task to accomplish.

Who needs soap operas when you’ve got non-stop drama from this clown justice system?

"You know what the crime is? I beat Hillary Clinton."

"They don't want me to beat Biden again."

Donald Trump speaks out from his Manhattan trial pic.twitter.com/VTysqLkFKM

— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) May 20, 2024

ABC News reports:

Prosecutors in the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president rested their historic case after presenting more than 200 pieces of evidence and hearing from 20 witnesses, including Michael Cohen, who concluded nearly four full days on the stand on Monday.

The defense called its first two witnesses — neither of whom were Donald Trump — and set out to undermine Cohen’s credibility. That responsibility fell in large part to Robert Costello, a onetime legal adviser to Cohen, who instead earned a sharp rebuke from Judge Merchan for allegedly violating his “courtroom decorum.”

Costello will return to the stand Tuesday morning.

Trump is on trial for allegedly falsifying business records to hide the reimbursement of a hush money payment that Cohen, his then-attorney, made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in order to boost Trump’s electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election. The former president has denied all wrongdoing.

Here are five big takeaways from Day 19 of Trump’s criminal hush money trial.

The state rests its case

Across four weeks of testimony, prosecutors told a story of of alleged sex, schemes, and lies related to the 2016 election — presenting more than 200 pieces of evidence and calling 20 witnesses to the stand.

It was an historic case — the first to target a former president of the United States — and on Monday afternoon, the prosecution rested.

Jurors in recent weeks heard from Stormy Daniels, the adult film actress whose long-denied alleged affair with Trump underpinned the alleged illegal conduct; David Pecker, the tabloid executive who promised to “catch-and-kill” negative stories about Trump; and Michael Cohen, Trump’s onetime attorney who arranged and executed the payments.

Michael Cohen concludes his testimony

Michael Cohen spent nearly four full days on the witness stand, where he described in chapter and verse how Donald Trump allegedly falsified business records to conceal payments to Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.

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Cohen executed the payments to Daniels, and his testimony provided jurors with crucial narrative tissue. But his credibility — or potential lack thereof — could impact how jurors interpret the merits of the state’s case.

On Monday, Cohen said he had “more than 20” conversations, in person or by phone, with Donald Trump in October 2016 about the Stormy Daniels payoff.

The state rested its case when he stepped off the witness stand.

Fox News adds:

Former President Trump ripped the New York justice system in comments ahead of court Monday while touting that he believes he can win the historically blue Empire State this election cycle.

“The criminal justice system is on trial in New York,'” Trump said Monday morning, reading an excerpt from legal expert and lawyer Alan Dershowitz. He then added, “I love this state. I love the people of the state. I’m running hard in New York.”

“I think we’re going to win New York,” he said.

Trump also cited other cases he has faced in the state while slamming the court system as “corrupt.”

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Trump is back in Manhattan for his 19th day in court, where his former attorney Michael Cohen faces ongoing cross-examination. The case focuses on the prosecution team trying to prove Trump falsified business records 34 times to conceal a $130,000 payment to former pornography star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election to quiet her claims of an affair with Trump.

Trump has pleaded not guilty in the case and has maintained his innocence.

Trump’s legal team said last week they expect to wrap up questioning with Cohen early Monday morning. Closing arguments could begin as early as Tuesday.

WATCH longer clip:

🚨TRUMP: “Hopefully the motion to dismiss this trial will go through because this trial is a disaster for our country..We did nothing wrong—My crime is I beat Hillary Clinton.” pic.twitter.com/9RjeoWD898

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) May 20, 2024