defense rests in Trump persecution case, jury likely to start mulling a decision next wednesday

By Grand Rapids Anonymous
tuesday, may 21, 2024 at 4:01:00 p.m. edt

“(cbs) the judge overseeing former [sic] President Donald Trump’s criminal trial in new york is hearing arguments from both sides about what instructions he should give jurors before they begin deliberating next week.

“justice Juan Merchan will craft what’s known as the jury ‘charge,’ laying out the legal issues that jurors must consider to reach a verdict. prosecutors and defense attorneys are debating what they think should be included — and omitted — from those instructions. Merchan will present his final charge next week, following closing arguments.

[GRA: “Disregard any evidence that would exonerate the defendant...”]

“the charge conference comes after the President’s defense rested its case earlier tuesday, without the chief executive testifying. the former [sic] president has hinted for weeks that he might take the stand, and has railed against the judge’s gag order limiting what he can say outside the courtroom about the witnesses who testified against him.

“ultimately, however, the President looked on from the defense table as his attorneys called just two witnesses: a legal analyst and Robert Costello, an attorney who got a harsh dressing down from the judge on monday.

“Costello’s testimony was aimed at discrediting the prosecution’s star witness, Michael Cohen.

“Costello told jurors that Cohen told him in 2018 that Trump ‘knew nothing’ about the $130,000 ‘hush money’ payment that Cohen made to the adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Cohen put up the money himself, and testified that Trump knew of a plan to cover up the payments reimbursing him. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsification of business records stemming from the reimbursements.

“for his part, Cohen said he never trusted Costello, and lied to him to protect himself.

[N.S.: ‘I lied to him, I swear to you, I lied to him!’]

“after today, the trial will adjourn until next tuesday, when both sides will begin presenting their closing arguments. the jury will likely get the case next wednesday.

GRA: The proceedings are moving faster than a black trying to escape a police chase.

--GRA