Closing Arguments Set in Trump Criminal Trial as Jury Prepares to Deliberate

The high-profile criminal trial of former President Donald Trump in New York has entered its final phase, with closing arguments scheduled for Tuesday. Over the course of the trial, a total of 22 witnesses provided testimony, including a p*** actor, a tabloid publisher, and several White House insiders. Prosecutors called 20 witnesses, while the defense summoned just two, and notably, Trump opted not to testify on his own behalf.

The jury, composed of 12 members, will soon decide whether prosecutors have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump falsified business records to conceal stories of marital infidelity during his 2016 presidential campaign. Key evidence includes 11 checks sent to Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen, along with related invoices and company ledger entries.

Stormy Daniels testified about a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006 and revealed she accepted $130,000 from Cohen in 2016 to keep her story quiet. David P*****, former publisher of the National Enquirer, testified he agreed to assist Trump's campaign by suppressing damaging stories and promoting positive ones. P*****'s company paid $30,000 to a Trump Tower doorman and $150,000 to former Playboy model Karen McDougal to ensure their silence.

Keith Davidson, a lawyer who represented individuals with compromising information, corroborated P*****'s testimony by negotiating hush money deals for McDougal and Daniels. Michael Cohen provided detailed testimony on working with the National Enquirer to suppress negative stories about Trump, stating he acted on Trump's direction and kept him updated on the payoffs to McDougal and Daniels.

Cohen explained that Trump, advised by his friends and trusted advisors, felt it was best to buy Daniels' silence for $130,000. Trump instructed Cohen to meet with Allen Weisselberg, the Trump Organization’s chief financial officer, to arrange the payment. Cohen sought Trump’s approval and testified that everything required Trump's sign-off, even borrowing money from a bank to make the payment, which Trump later reimbursed through a trust and personal accounts.

The trial also featured testimony from Hope Hicks, Trump’s former campaign and White House communications director, about efforts to manage the fallout from the “Access Hollywood” leak. Hicks testified that Trump was concerned about how his wife, Melania, would react to a Wall Street Journal article detailing McDougal’s hush money deal.

Robert Costello, an attorney and ex-federal prosecutor, testified that Cohen initially claimed he made the Daniels deal independently and that Trump was unaware of it. The trial has paused on Wednesdays to accommodate Manhattan mental health court cases, overseen by Judge Juan Merchan, who also presides over Trump’s trial.

For the past six weeks, Trump has been present in court as the presumptive Republican nominee for the next presidential election. The trial has drawn significant public and media attention, with lines forming outside the court for hours to attend. Meanwhile, Judge Merchan, known for his compassionate approach in mental health court, has held Trump in contempt 10 times for violating his gag order, even threatening jail time.

The mental health court in Manhattan, founded in 2011 and presided over by Merchan, offers an alternative to prison for those who plead guilty to felonies, provided they demonstrate a history of mental illness and complete an individualized treatment plan. If defendants successfully complete the program, their indictments are dismissed. Failure to do so can result in the recommended sentence, including possible state prison time.

As the trial nears its conclusion, all eyes are on the jury as they prepare to deliberate and deliver a verdict that could have significant implications for Trump's political future.

Conservative Bias:

Well, here we go again, folks. The liberal media and their cronies in the judicial system are at it once more, trying to take down former President Trump with a sham trial. They’ve paraded a circus of witnesses, from a p*** star to tabloid hacks, all orchestrated to paint Trump as a villain. This is nothing but a desperate attempt by the left to sabotage his 2024 campaign. The so-called evidence? A few checks and some dubious testimonies from people with axes to grind. And let’s not overlook the biased judge, who’s been holding Trump in contempt left and right. This trial is a farce, a political witch hunt designed to distract from the real issues and keep Trump from draining the swamp again. The liberals are terrified of his return and will stop at nothing to prevent it. This is not justice; this is a disgrace.

Liberal Bias:

In a stunning display of how deeply corrupted the American political system has become under conservative influence, the Trump criminal trial reveals the depths of deceit and moral bankruptcy. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has been exposed for his relentless efforts to suppress the truth and manipulate the public. The testimonies from Stormy Daniels, Michael Cohen, and David P***** paint a damning picture of a man who would stop at nothing to hide his infidelities and deceive the American people. And let’s not forget the contemptible behavior of Trump’s legal team, who have tried to spin this as anything but a clear-cut case of corruption. The judge, despite his leniency and compassion in mental health court, has had to hold Trump in contempt multiple times, showcasing Trump’s utter disregard for the rule of law. This trial is a crucial reminder of the dangers posed by Trump and his enablers, and the urgent need to hold them accountable to protect our democracy.