Justice Juan Merchan will provide jurors with instructions on the law after the day-long summations in the trial of former President Donald Trump in New York. The prosecution and defense will wrap up their cases on May 28, allowing the jurors to deliberate on their verdict.
The Manhattan District Attorney has charged President Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records to the first degree, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Justice Merchan’s instructions on the law are expected to last an hour.
During the trial, prosecutors have presented a substantial amount of records, including emails, texts, phone call logs, contracts, and other documentation to establish a scheme to influence the 2016 presidential election and conceal it through payments to Michael Cohen. The prosecutors argue that these records demonstrate intent to defraud, although not all of them are directly related to the charges.
Prosecutors are likely to remind jurors of the concept of accessorial liability, where it is not necessary for President Trump to have personally created the false records but to have caused them to be created. Defense attorneys are expected to attack the credibility of witnesses, including Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels, portraying them as opportunists with inconsistent testimony.
The defense will emphasize the legality of the non-disclosure agreement and the actions taken during the election, arguing that they were lawful. Both sides will present their final arguments before the jury deliberates on the verdict. Can you please rephrase this sentence?
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