The closing arguments at former President Trump's hush money trial in Manhattan Tuesday focused on a central question the jury will have to consider as deliberations near: Can Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen be trusted?
How jurors view testimony from Cohen, who was disbarred and imprisoned for tax evasion and lying, will be critical in determining whether they believe prosecutors proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche spent the bulk of his closing arguments attacking the credibility of Cohen, who was the prosecution's star witness.
Blanche called Cohen the "MVP of liars" and the "embodiment" of reasonable doubt.
"You cannot convict President Trump of any crime beyond a reasonable doubt on the words of Michael Cohen. Cohen lied to him. Cohen. Lied. To. You."
During the trial, Cohen admitted to stealing money from the Trump Organization. The defense says that Cohen's claim he spoke to Trump by phone to greenlight a hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels was a lie. The defense previously cast Cohen as an opportunist who has raked in millions from media deals since he turned on Trump
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said during closing arguments that the jury should use "commons sense" when it comes to Cohen's testimony.
"Michael Cohen is understandably angry that, to date, he's the only one who's paid the price for his role in this conspiracy."
Trump's defense team also questioned the theory at the heart of the prosecution's case — that Trump altered bank records in furtherance of another crime. In this case, the alleged crime is that Trump sought to deceive voters ahead of the 2016 election by burying a story that would be harmful to his campaign.
Blanche argued that every political campaign "is a conspiracy to promote a candidate." He noted that Daniels' allegations had appeared online in 2011, so there was no concern that news of the affair would impact the election.
"He did not commit any crimes, and the district attorney has not met their burden of proof. Period."
Steinglass fired back in his closing remarks. The prosecution contends that Daniels' allegations would have been a death blow to Trump's 2016 campaign after the leak off the "Access Hollywood" tape, in which Trump can be heard bragging about grabbing women.
"Democracy gives people the right to elect their leaders, but that rests on the premise that voters have access to accurate information about the candidates. The entire purpose of this meeting at Trump Tower was to deny that access. To manipulate and defraud the voters. To pull the wool over their eyes in a coordinated fashion."
Filing from the courtroom, The Hill's Ella Lee notes the jurors' energy is waning as closing arguments drag on:
"Several jurors have begun peering around the courtroom as prosecutor Joshua Steinglass makes his final pitch. At least one juror is struggling to keep her eyes open, putting her head in her hands. Another has rested his eyes for several seconds at a time."
Once the prosecution concludes its final arguments, Judge Juan Merchan will give instructions to the jury. Those instructions have been litigated by both sides, and will determine how the jury interprets the case against Trump.
The prosecution is expected to finish closing arguments this evening, sending the jury to deliberate. Once that happens, a verdict could be returned at any time.
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