Closing arguments in Trump fraud case this week, verdict awaited.
The criminal trial of former US President Donald Trump over accusations of falsifying business records is set to conclude this week in New York after nearly five weeks of proceedings. Closing arguments will be presented to jurors on Tuesday before they begin deliberations to arrive at a verdict.
Trump is accused of orchestrating hush-money payments to pornstar Stormy Daniels in 2016 to influence the presidential election. If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison on each of 34 counts, but a first-time offender is unlikely to face jail. Crucially, a conviction will not bar him from contesting elections again.
Testimony from over 20 witnesses, including Daniels and Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who handled the payments, has been presented. Cohen stated the money was meant to ensure Daniels’ allegations did not impact Trump’s election bid.
The defense sought to undermine Cohen’s credibility. Trump did not testify, avoiding unnecessary legal jeopardy. He expressed regular displeasure with the trial but was cited 10 times for contempt.
A unanimous verdict is required, or else a retrial. Trump also faces charges of election tampering and document mishandling in other cases, though these won’t conclude before the November elections when he may again run against Democrat Joe Biden.
Irrespective of the result, the watershed New York case will impact Trump’s political future and ongoing public discourse on issues at the intersection of governance, crime, and polls.
