Donald Trump’s hush money trial has wrapped up for the week after a day of heated cross-examination on Thursday in which key witness Michael Cohen was grilled by defense attorney Todd Blanche. The former “fixer” for the defendant spent the whole day on the stand in Judge Juan Merchan’s Manhattan courtroom.
Much of the questioning revolved around previous occasions in which he had lied under oath. These had been previously brought up by the prosecution with Cohen noting that his lies were to protect Mr Trump, then his boss.
Mr Blanche zeroed in on whether Cohen, who received tens of thousands of calls per year, could specifically remember what was discussed in a 90-second call in 2016.
The witness remained calm and steadfast during his testimony, also walking the jury through the strategy allegedly employed by Mr Trump’s inner circle to delay making the $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in October 2016 to buy her silence about the sexual encounter she claims he had with the politician in July 2006.
Judge Merchan has now asked both sides to prepare for closing arguments on Tuesday.
Alex Woodward is covering the trial from Manhattan Criminal Court.
Truth Social: Trump bizarrely claims Manhattan DA wants to drop hush money case
The Republican presidential candidate and criminal defendant posted no fewer than 14 quotes over night from conservative media allies, painstaking typed out, all helpfully decrying the case against him after it wrapped up for another week.
More interestingly – and bizarrely – he posed this wild claim that the “Soros-backed Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg actually never wanted to bring the hush money case against him and would rather concentrating on prosecuting violent crime in New York City, but cannot abandon it because of Judge Juan Merchan, who is in hock to “Radical Left Democrats”.
“People are thinking that Soros backed D.A., Alvin Bragg, who never wanted to bring the Witch Hunt against me in the first place, is going to drop this ridiculous and very unpatriotic ‘CASE’ in order to save lots of money, and also the self respect of his once revered Office. He would then be able to focus on Violent Crime, which is running rampant and totally out of control in New York. The dilemma is, and always has been, the Trump Hating (APPOINTED IN 2009 & STILL ACTING!) Judge, Juan Merchan, who would be confronted with the problem of how he would explain this TRUMP loss, to the Radical Left Democrats, to whom he owes so much? Bring back “Justice in America.” ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!!”
The man needs a lie down.
Joe Sommerlad17 May 2024 08:45
Hush money trial: Trump asks New York’s highest court to step in over gag order
The former president has been fighting the gag order that Justice Juan Merchan placed on him in March to prevent Mr Trump from damaging the integrity of the trial and witnesses.
Ariana Baio has the story:
Oliver O’Connell17 May 2024 08:15
Trump says RFK Jr ‘needs more than his name’ to be included in debate
Their plans – which materialised through a series of jibes at each other – rattled RFK Jr, who took issue with being left out of the events.
Joe Sommerlad has the story:
Oliver O’Connell17 May 2024 06:15
Trump reveals Barron’s college plans ahead of tomorrow’s graduation
Previously, Mr Trump told journalist Megyn Kelly in September 2023 that Barron was “thinking about” attending the University of Pennsylvania, where Mr Trump and three of his children studied. Rumours have also indicated that Barron may attend New York University in Manhattan, where he grew up, according toThe Daily Beast.
Gustaf Kilander has the details…
Oliver O’Connell17 May 2024 04:15
Hush money trial: Michael Cohen’s ex-legal advisor accused of jury tampering
Oliver O’Connell17 May 2024 03:15
Giuliani was indicted over Arizona election interference plot. But prosecutors say they can’t find him
Since then, state prosecutors have spent weeks trying to serve Mr Giuliani with a summons, Richie Taylor at the Arizona attorney general’s office told CNN.
Gustaf Kilander has the story…
Oliver O’Connell17 May 2024 02:15
Watch: Conway confident redirect will clear up call Cohen call ambiguity
Oliver O’Connell17 May 2024 01:45
Mike Johnson branded Trump’s ‘prop’
Congressman Jim McGovern has condemned House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson as a “prop of Donald Trump” after he attended the former president’s hush money criminal trial.
The Democrat delivered the scathing criticism after Mr Johnson skipped a House session, to instead be 200 miles north in Manhattan to attend Mr Trump’s criminal trial as Mr Trump’s former lawyer and fixer Micahel Cohen took the stand.
Mr McGovern, who’s a fellow House member, branded Mr Johnson’s presence at Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday as a “stunt”.
Oliver O’Connell17 May 2024 01:15
Oliver O’Connell17 May 2024 00:45
Biden and Trump are ready to rumble at June debate. But it’s hardly a risk-free endeavor for either man
Biden’s challenge, and Trump’s enthusiastic acceptance, reveal just how much both candidates need these debates in the short-term to convince an American public, weary of both men, that they are worthy of their vote.
Oliver O’Connell17 May 2024 00:15
