Closing Arguments

[gatomontes99]

 

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Prosecution: 

• Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told the jury that they didn't need Cohen's testimony to prove there was a conspiracy. He said there is a “mountain of evidence” to corroborate what he said on the stand, including other witnesses and documents. The prosecutor said Cohen provides “context and color” to the physical evidence. Steinglass reiterated that this case is not about Cohen, but about whether Trump should be held accountable.
• The prosecutor also tried to rehabilitate Stormy Daniels' credibility. He said the details Daniels gave about her interaction with Trump prove that it is true. Steinglass argued that Daniels was the motive for Trump to pay the hush money payment and falsify business records. He said the defense’s narrative that the payment started as an extortion is “so bogus."
• Steinglass called out an argument Trump’s attorney made about Cohen admitting he stole money from the Trump Organization. Steinglass argued that Cohen can be called a “thief or say it wasn't a reimbursement but not both.” He pointed out that if the defense is saying the payment was for legal services rendered, not a reimbursement, then there was no theft. He later said the defense is trying to have it both ways.
• Steinglass argued that the defense’s assertion that the payments to Cohen were for legal services is disproved by handwritten notes from former CFO Allen Weisselberg and former Trump Organization controller Jeffrey McConney. He walked the jury through the notes and mentioned that "the defendant has himself repeatedly admitted that the payments were reimbursements.”
• The prosecutor told the jury that Trump “paid a porn star by funneling money through a lawyer,” and showed the jury vouchers and check stubs that he said backed that up. He also showed the jury checks signed by Trump, pointing out his signature in Sharpie. Steinglass argued no one could sign them but Trump. He also reiterated testimony that Trump was very involved in his business and insisted on controlling payments.
• In a 2015 meeting at Trump Tower, Steinglass said Trump and former American Media Inc. CEO David Pecker discussed how to conduct “catch and kill” operations for negative stories about Trump — even if they didn’t use that exact terminology. Steinglass argued the “catch and kill” schemes could very well be what got Trump elected.

 

 

 

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Defense:

• Trump's attorney Todd Blanche slammed the testimony of the prosecution's key witness, Cohen, telling the jurors that they “should want and expect more.” He said the jury can't convict Trump beyond a reasonable doubt on Cohen’s words, calling him the “MVP of liars” and that there is “not a shred of evidence” in what he said on the stand. He pointed to when Cohen admitted he stole from the Trump Organization and inconsistencies in Cohen’s testimony about a call with Trump’s former bodyguard.
• The defense alleged that Cohen lied when he testified that he never had a retainer agreement with Trump in 2017. Blanche said there was a verbal retainer and asked the jury if they believed Cohen would work for free and that Trump would agree to overpay. He also pointed out times when Cohen did some legal work. He reminded jurors that the Trump Organization always labeled any expenses from a lawyer as "legal expenses" and that is not a crime. 
• Blanche argued that Trump, who was in the White House at the time, was very busy and did not know the details of each check to Cohen. He said Trump’s sons, Eric and Donald Jr., co-signed some checks. He also said there is “nothing sinister” about Trump’s personal checks being sent to employees’ personal addresses, rather than the White House, for them to be signed. He argued that there was no intent to defraud because the payments to Cohen were adequately disclosed to the IRS.
• Blanche argued that Cohen made the decision to pay $130,000 to Stormy Daniels, not Trump. He said Cohen didn't tell Trump about it because “he knew he could get credit for doing something to help President Trump at some later time."
• Blanche argued that it was a longstanding practice for American Media Inc. to publish flattering stories about Trump. Further, he said it was “preposterous” to think that Trump believed stories in the Enquirer could determine the result of the election. Trump’s lawyer also pointed out that there was no discussion of “catch and kill” specifically during an August 2015 meeting at Trump Tower.
• Merchan gave a curative instruction to the jury after Blanche made an “outrageous” comment during his closing argument. Blanche talked about Cohen's credibility and told the jury: “You cannot send someone to prison you cannot convict somebody based upon the words of Michael Cohen." The jury is not supposed to consider penalties, so bringing up the possibility of prison was inappropriate, the judge said.

 

 

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-05-28-24/index.html

 

CNN didn't make this look good for the prosecution. You don't spend time talking about how you don't need your anchor witness unless you think the anchor witness was so bad that no one believed him.

[robosmith]

1 hour ago, gatomontes99 said:

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-05-28-24/index.html

 

CNN didn't make this look good for the prosecution. You don't spend time talking about how you don't need your anchor witness unless you think the anchor witness was so bad that no one believed him.

Just cause you make up ^this BULLSHIT doesn't make it true.

The REAL reason they say they don't need Cohen is because he was corroborated by other sources and circumstantial evidence. Duh

[gatomontes99]

9 hours ago, robosmith said:

Just cause you make up ^this BULLSHIT doesn't make it true.

The REAL reason they say they don't need Cohen is because he was corroborated by other sources and circumstantial evidence. Duh

Yeah, right. He was touted, by the prosecution mind you, as the star witness. You don't say you don't need the star witness unless the star witness absolutely f'd up your case. Their closing arguments are an admission that their witness was a disaster.

He was also the only one that said Trump knew about the payment. The only one. The jury instructions say that if there is a plausible explanation that is legal, they must acquit.

[robosmith]

5 hours ago, gatomontes99 said:

Yeah, right. He was touted, by the prosecution mind you, as the star witness. You don't say you don't need the star witness unless the star witness absolutely f'd up your case. Their closing arguments are an admission that their witness was a disaster.

^Only YOUR OPINION. Existing corroboration is the real reason.

Did you hear the judge's instructions? He said because Cohen was an "accomplice," even if the jury believes his testimony completely, they can't convict unless he is CORROBORATED. 

5 hours ago, gatomontes99 said:

He was also the only one that said Trump knew about the payment. The only one. The jury instructions say that if there is a plausible explanation that is legal, they must acquit.

Cohen's statement IS UNOPPOSED. Only Trump could refuted it AND HE DID NOT. AKA, there was NO "plausible explanation" offered. The jury does not get to just make one up.

[Deluge]

I hope they find the Donald guilty so that he can shoot further up the polls. lol

[Legato]

32 minutes ago, Deluge said:

I hope they find the Donald guilty so that he can shoot further up the polls. lol

Well that would certainly be a New York minute.

[West]

The sequel of the collusion delusion has been an absolute dud

[CdnFox]

Yeah, it's always a bad thing when the prosecution has to try to convince the jury that they don't have to believe their star witness.

I feel like the prosecution just didn't handle as well. Maybe it's just how it plays out in the media but it really feels like this trial has now become less about did trump commit a crime and more along the lines of is stormy a skank and is cohen a liar.  And that's really not the case that they wanted to be fighting.

I guess we'll find out soon, but honestly there's so much grounds for appeal here that I suspect it will be a while before it's over