New York — The final arguments in Donald Trump’s historic hush trial are scheduled to begin Tuesday morning, giving prosecutors and defense attorneys one last chance to convince jurors of their respective cases before deliberations begin.
Jurors will have the unprecedented task of deciding whether to convict the former U.S. president on felony charges related to hush money payments related to a scheme to buy and bury stories that could ruin Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
At the heart of the charge is Michael Cohen’s restitution of $130,000 in hush money he paid to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2006 for not disclosing her claims about sexual encounters with Trump.
Prosecutors said the payment to Cohen, President Trump’s then-attorney, was falsely recorded as “legal expenses” to hide the true nature of the deal.
Trump denied any wrongdoing.
He has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records, which carry a penalty of up to four years in prison.
Closing arguments are expected to last all day Tuesday, with jury deliberations beginning as early as Wednesday.
The case is the first of four indictments brought against President Trump as he seeks to reclaim the White House from Democrat Joe Biden.
The other case centered on charges that he illegally stored classified documents at his property in Palm Beach, Florida and conspired to overturn the 2020 presidential election. It’s unclear whether any of them will go to trial before the November election.
today:
— Here’s what every key witness said in Donald Trump’s hush trial.
— As Trump’s hush trial nears its end, spectators have been lining up for days to get inside.
— Closing arguments, jury instructions, and maybe a verdict? A major week is approaching
— Trump Hush Money Case: A Timeline of Key Events
— Key players: Who attended Trump’s hush-money trial?
— Hiding money, catching and killing, and more: A guide to the unique terminology used in Trump’s trial.
Here’s the latest information:
With Donald Trump’s hush trial expected to get underway Tuesday morning, jurors will have the important task of deciding whether to find the former U.S. president guilty of some, all, or none of the 34 felonies he was charged with.
To convict President Trump of the felony charge of falsifying business records, prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump not only falsified or caused the business records to be falsified, but did so with the intent to commit or conceal another crime. We have to convince the jury. All decisions must be unanimous.
To prevent a conviction, the defense simply needs to convince at least one juror that prosecutors failed to prove Trump’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the standard in a criminal case.
The state also faces a misdemeanor charge of falsifying business records. The charge only requires the defendant to prove that he or she made or caused the false statement, but it is not part of Trump’s case and therefore will not be considered by jurors.
For many Americans, Memorial Day weekend was a moment to remember the sacrifices of American soldiers and to escape from their busy lives.
For others, it was a chance to get the best possible seat in Donald Trump’s hush trial ahead of Tuesday’s closing arguments. Last Friday afternoon, several people, including professional line sitters with dog tents, camped out for a chance to see the final part of the historic proceedings up close and personal.
Most of the seats inside the courtroom are reserved for lawyers, Trump entourage, security guards and journalists, but some are open to the public.
The former president’s Manhattan trial drew visitors from all over, including students from local schools and many out-of-town residents.
Final arguments in Donald Trump’s hush trial are expected to begin Tuesday, marking the beginning of the end for a historic proceeding that began in April.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys are expected to make their final statements after more than four weeks of witness testimony, hoping to sway jurors in one direction or another.
After closing arguments, which are expected to last all day, Judge Juan M. Merchan will spend about an hour educating jurors on the law that applies to the case and giving them a roadmap for what they can and cannot consider when evaluating them. The guilt or innocence of the former Republican president.
Jurors could begin deliberations as early as Wednesday.
