Defense tells hush-money jury ‘you cannot convict Trump of any crime based on the words of Michael Cohen’ – live | Donald Trump trials
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Defense tells jurors: ‘You can’t convict Trump of a crime based on Michael Cohen’s words’
Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche said jurors should want more than Michael Cohenthe testimony of.
“Something beyond the words of a woman who claims something happened in 2006,” he said, referring to Stormy Daniels.
“The bottom line is that the charges in this case are related to invoices, vouchers and cheques. All invoices were submitted by Michael Cohen,” he said.
You cannot condemn President Trump. You cannot convict President Trump of any crime beyond a reasonable doubt based on the words of Michael Cohen.
“The words that Michael Cohen spoke to you on this podium matter. They matter,” Blanche said.
He told you a number of things on the witness stand that were lies.
Key events
As for the vouchers describing the payment to Michael Cohen as a legal service, Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche said “there is no other way to categorize an invoice from a lawyer” on Donald Trump.
“The government has criminalized this,” Blanche said. “This is absurd.”
“He put this signature pad on every single email he sent in 2017, it was no secret,” Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche said.
Michael Cohen was Donald Trump’s personal attorney, period.
Trump said it was a “dark day in America” before entering the courtroom
Donald Trump spoke to reporters before heading to the courtroom, repeating his claims that he was forced to attend the trial to remain silent because of Joe Biden without providing evidence.
Trump, with his lawyer Todd Blanche at his side, read excerpts from a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article, breaking in at times with his own opinion.
He called Judge Juan Murchan “corrupt” and “conflicted” but said he could not talk about the trial because of the gag order. He added:
We’ll see how it goes. This is a very dangerous day for America. It’s a very sad day.
“Cohen provided services to President Trump in 2017 as his personal attorney,” Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche said.
There is really no question that in 2017, Michael Cohen was President Trump’s personal attorney.
Cohen said, “One of the reasons he had to serve as President Trump’s personal attorney was because there were outstanding issues that he was dealing with.”
“The language in the check documentation is driven by the vouchers, which is driven by the invoices,” Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche said.
“Each one was addressed to Alan Weiselberg, care of Donald Trump” he said, referring to the former CFO of the Trump Organization.
He continued:
There is no dispute that no invoice was sent directly to Donald Trump.
Defense tells jurors: ‘You can’t convict Trump of a crime based on Michael Cohen’s words’
Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche said jurors should want more than Michael Cohenthe testimony of.
“Something beyond the words of a woman who claims something happened in 2006,” he said, referring to Stormy Daniels.
“The bottom line is that the charges in this case are related to invoices, vouchers and cheques. All invoices were submitted by Michael Cohen,” he said.
You cannot condemn President Trump. You cannot convict President Trump of any crime beyond a reasonable doubt based on the words of Michael Cohen.
“The words that Michael Cohen spoke to you on this podium matter. They matter,” Blanche said.
He told you a number of things on the witness stand that were lies.
Defense begins closing arguments: ‘President Trump is innocent’
The defender Adv Todd Blanche begins his closing speech.
“Every single one of you was here on time and we see that you pay close attention to the evidence all day every day and we really appreciate that,” Blanche said.
“Our criminal justice system, as Judge Murchan just told you, is unique.
Blanche said, “Each of you will decide at the end of this case whether President Trump is guilty or not.”
President Trump is innocent. He did not commit any crimes and the district attorney did not meet his burden of proof, period. The evidence is all in, it’s all arrived since last Tuesday, and that evidence – as I told you on April 22 – should leave you wanting more.
The jury entered the courtroom.
a judge Juan Mercan tells jurors about closing arguments and what they mean.
He notes that protection comes first because it is the law.
Please keep the following points in mind: first, you are the fact finder and you alone must determine the facts from the evidence. You have to remember whatever the lawyers say or however they say it, these are just arguments presented for your consideration.
a judge Juan Mercan instructs both sides before opening closing arguments:
Those of you who appeared before me, who summarized before me, I just want to remind you, please do not go into the law.
The reason for this is that judges should tell jurors about the law and how it applies to their deliberations, not the lawyers in the case.
Hugo Lowell
Donald Trump’s entourage today includes:
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His son Donald Trump Jr
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His son Eric Trump
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His daughter-in-law Lara Trump
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His daughter Tiffany Trump
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His son-in-law Michael Boulos
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Real estate investor Steve Witkoff
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Trump’s lawyer Will Scharf
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adviser to Trump Boris Epstein
Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche said his closing arguments would take about two and a half hours.
The prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said the length of closing arguments would have to be “responsive” to the conclusion of the defense, but they expect at this point it will be around four and a half hours.
a judge Juan Mercan is on the bench and the court begins.
The jury is still out, so expect the preliminary work.
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