The Trump trial has reached a critical phase with final arguments focusing on legal definitions and intent. Testimony has concluded, and both the prosecution and defense have rested. Attorneys are now debating definitions such as “intent,” “criminal conspiracy,” and “willful,” among others. The judge’s rulings on these issues will determine whether the case proceeds to the jury and how jurors are to interpret the case. The charges against Trump involve falsifying business records to cover up a second crime related to influencing an election. The defense argues that the government must define “intent to defraud,” while prosecutors claim proof is not necessary. The defense also disputes the necessity of criminal violations in the alleged actions. Outside the courtroom, Trump has criticized the case as politically motivated, but such arguments are not allowed in court. Prosecutors maintain that the records in the case speak for themselves, with Michael Cohen’s testimony being just one piece of the puzzle. The majority of the testimony focused on entering records into evidence rather than providing personal knowledge of President Trump’s statements or whereabouts. Witnesses from AT&T, First Republic Bank, and publishing companies were brought in to testify to the authenticity of records and documents. Paralegals and analysts testified about specific social media posts, phone record batches, and communications. Former Trump aides were subpoenaed to speak about his check-signing habits and signature.
The defense has been filing appeals and motions throughout the trial, including motions for dismissal and mistrial. They argued that the case should not go to the jury based on Mr. Cohen’s testimony, citing his lack of credibility. The defense also stated that there was insufficient evidence for the case to proceed to the jury’s deliberation.
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