The criminal hush money trial against former President Donald Trump took a dramatic turn on Monday as his legal team made a bold move to dismiss the entire case.
With the prosecution resting after presenting their evidence, Trump’s lawyers argued that the testimony of star witness Michael Cohen, Trump’s former fixer, was not credible due to his criminal record and history of lying.
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- Trump’s lawyers seek dismissal of hush money case, citing lack of credibility of star witness Michael Cohen.
- Cohen admitted on stand to previously stealing from Trump out of anger over a bonus amount.
- Judge hints savvy NYC jurors can evaluate Cohen’s credibility, leaving dismissal motion uncertain.
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Trump’s Hush Money Trial Hangs in the Balance as Defense Moves to Dismiss Case
The intense courtroom showdown unfolded as Judge Juan Merchan weighed the defense’s request for dismissal, a routine motion in criminal trials but one that is rarely granted.
However, Merchan suggested that the savvy New York jurors could assess Cohen’s credibility themselves, posing the question to Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche: “Do you think he’s going to fool 12 New Yorkers?”
Cohen’s Character Front and Center The day’s proceedings were dominated by scrutiny of Cohen’s character, with Trump’s legal team seeking to discredit his testimony as unreliable.
Cohen, a convicted felon and former zealous defender-turned-fierce critic of Trump, admitted to stealing money from his former boss out of anger over a perceived shortfall in his bonus after handling the $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Blanche argued vehemently for dismissal, stating, “There is no way that the court should let this case go to the jury relying on Cohen’s testimony. Without Cohen’s testimony, there is no case.”
Prosecutor Christopher Conroy countered that Cohen’s testimony was corroborated by documents and other evidence, asserting that “the trial evidence overwhelmingly supports each element of the offense.”
As the trial resumes on Tuesday, the question of whether Trump himself will take the stand remains unanswered.
While one of his lawyers initially suggested they did not plan to call additional witnesses beyond Robert Costello, who testified that Cohen had previously claimed to have no dirt on Trump, the former President remained tight-lipped when asked directly about testifying.
The hush money trial, centered around allegations that Trump falsified business records to conceal the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, is widely seen as the least consequential of the four criminal prosecutions Trump faces.
However, it will likely be the only one to go to trial before the highly anticipated 2024 presidential election.
With the outcome hanging in the balance, the nation watches as the legal drama unfolds, weighing the credibility of key witnesses and the strength of the prosecution’s case against Trump’s defense team’s efforts to dismiss the charges entirely.
As the trial progresses, the implications for Trump’s political future and the judicial system’s integrity remain at the forefront of public discourse.
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