The jury has now been sent home until next Tuesday, when they will hear closing arguments before going out to decide the fate of the former president.
Donald Trump 's defense has rested its case in the historic hush money trial after calling just two witnesses.
The rest of the day was spent in complex legal argument as the two sides nitpicked over the words that Judge Juan Merchan will use next week to instruct the jury before they begin deliberating.The defense was brief - rather than trying to contradict key parts of the prosecution's case, the defense sought to undermine the entire credibility of crucial witness Michael Cohen. But its reliance on lawyer Robert Costello to do that may have backfired.
And now a break - with the long weekend looming, Judge Merchan pushed back closing arguments to next Tuesday. He plans to finish his jury instructions by the end of Thursday, giving the two sides the weekend to write up their summations. It means we could have a verdict as soon as next Wednesday or Thursday.
As usual, Trump also quoted from a string of legal experts who have criticized the case against him, and he railed against the judge, who he accused of siding with the prosecution. His daughter is president of Authentic Campaigns, a group that represents Democrat politicians and political action committees , explains Stefanik.
Merchan is annoyed. He points out that he told the defense they would have to let the court know if they planned to use an 'advice of counsel' argument and submit the relevant documents. 'We don't think this is necessary,' he said, adding that the jury selection process was designed to root out potential jurors who could not set aside their existing feelings about Trump. 'Voir dire has satisfied this problem.'20:00Trump's lawyers claim he could be convicted if the jury isn't instructed properly Donald Trump’s lawyers claimed he could be convicted on a ‘flawed finding’ because of the way they are instructed by the judge.
19:56The Trump campaign says it is now accepting donations in cryptocurrenciesIn the meantime, a press release arrives announcing that the Trump campaign is the first ever to accept cryptocurrency. 19:47Judge says he will use standard language when it comes to issues of intentWe are still going with the back and forth about jury instructions.
For example, there is debate around language relating to federal election law. The defense says the passage should include the word 'willful.' The prosection disagrees saying the word is unnecessary. These charges are essentially a cut and paste version of what they're attempting to use to interfere with the 2024 Election and to take down President Trump and anyone willing to take on the permanent Washington political class. Joe Biden and his allies continue to weaponize the criminal justice system in their quest to take down President Trump and hold on to power. Mayor Rudy Giuliani—the most effective federal prosecutor in U.S.
He said it's 'a bid to lower prices before the election' and also that it's 'because he's unable to drill properly.' Bobb, who recently joined the Republican National Committee as a senior counsel for 'election integrity', glowered as she had her mugshot was taken. 17:28Meanwhile in Trump's Georgia election fraud case...DA Fani Willis says Republican fury over her conduct has given her 'thicker skin'Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis says fury over her conduct in the Trump case has given her 'thicker skin' and calls top Republican Jim Jordan a 'clown' for his 'illegitimate' investigations.
'Jim Jordan has, time after time after time, attacked my office with no legitimate purpose,' Willis told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow. The instructions will involve the judge developing how the jury should be instructed with the legal concepts and set of court decisions laid out in a way that an everyday person would understand.
17:10Why Trump decided not to take the stand: Donald leaves his fate in the hands of the jury after getting through 22 witnesses unscathedIt was a headline writers' dream of a trial: A porn star describing sex with a future president, a look inside the seediest kind of journalism and a disgraced lawyer dishing the dirt on his former boss.
16:00Trump press aide Margo Martin arrives back at Trump TowerMargo Martin, Trump's Deputy Director of Communications, has arrived back at Trump Tower in New York after attending the court case. Prosecutors and defense lawyers will argue about what instructions the judge should give to jurors when he sums up the case.Judge Merchan has said he expects his instructions to last about an hour and they will be delivered next week.
In an email to a colleague Costello called Cohen an 'a**hole' and accused him of trying to 'play the most powerful man on the planet' Donald Trump. 'If this was going on right now, in a third-world Banana Republic, there would be people screaming about it. You people, the media, would be outraged. Instead, because I presume you’re fine with whatever the results are, as long as it’s against Donald Trump. Your silence is deafening and it’s disgusting.'The prosecution called 20 of those and, between them, they testified for at least 50 hours.14:41Trump aides Margo Martin and Natalie Harp match in pink as they attend trial.
Trump aides Margo Martin and Natalie Harp match in pink outfitsMargo , 28, and Natalie , 32, appeared to have gotten the pink memo as they were both spotted exiting Trump Tower in New York on Tuesday in matching outfits in similar hues.Mail Online ‘I went there to testify,’ was Costello’s response. Asked if it was an effort to ‘intimidate’ Cohen, he called the notion ‘ridiculous.’
Costello wrote: 'What should I say to this a******? He is playing with the most powerful man on the planet.'Costello replied: 'It certainly does.' Manhattan prosecutors say Trump hid the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about the affair as a legal expense to help him win the 2016 election.
13:57Robert Costello is on thin ice alreadyRobert Costello is back on the stand. He clashed with Judge Juan Merchan yesterday, who warned him about his 'contemptous' behavior with eye rolls and sighs at prosecution objections. 13:47Costello appears subdued after judge went nuclear on him yesterdayTrump defense witness Robert Costello appears calm on the stand today after receiving a tongue-lashing from the judge yesterday.
Trump and the Republican Party brought in $76 million in April. That’s about 50 per cent more than the $51 million Biden and the Democratic National Committee brought in last month. Legal adviser Boris Epshteyn plays traffic director, making sure everyone in the retinue gets a seat. 13:19Donald Trump claims there's 'no crime' after arriving at court and says defense will rest quicklyTrump said he would like to be out campaigning right now but he has to be in court.Once again, the ex-president went after a 'highly conflicted judge.'
Former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker and former Florida AG Pam Bondi are also in New York to show support for Trump in his criminal trial.13:07Trump heads to court from Trump Tower as his defense continuesThe former president departed Trump Tower Tuesday morning as his lawyers resume their defense with lawyer Bob Costello set to return to the stand.
Comedian and former Saturday Night Live cast member Joe Piscopo is also getting behind the former president in court.Former FL AG Pam BondiRep. Dale Strong12:18Trump's aide Margo Martin posts from Trump Tower Donald Trumo's aide Margo Martin began Tuesday morning by posting a photo overlooking Central Park from the former president's Manhattan residence.
In a divorce deposition in 1989 Ivana made an accusation of rape but rescinded this in 2015. She has since died. Ivanka Trump would later join her father at the White House, and Don Jr. and Eric helped run the Trump Organization while Trump was president. 11:10Irate judge dramatically clears courtroom after clash with witness: 'Are you staring me down?'DailyMail.com's Nick Allen recaps the showdown between Bob Costello and Judge Juan Merchan from inside the courtroom
After yet another 'sustained' Costello became exasperated at not being able to answer, and said 'Jeez..' When the media returned, after several minutes, Costello was still on the stand but looked a little redder in the face.Judge Merchan, now fully the master of his own courtroom, continued to sustain objections and Costello studiously avoided looking at him or showing any dissent.
11:07 Michael Cohen painted as a thief and a profiteer who orchestrated a failed poll rigging scheme to boost Donald Trump's image From Rob Crilly, Senior U.S. Political Reporter in courtroom 1530:
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