Orange Is The New Orange: Closing Trial Arguments
SUMMARY OF THE TRIAL
TRUMP TRIAL SUMMARY
The Donald Trump trial prosecution and defense gave their final arguments today. The basic line from the prosecution was that the ex-president conspired to steal the 2016 election and covered up the evidence with documents, payments, and other actions. It was an election crime with more falsified documentation (34) to support that argument than most trials. The dual crimes bumped each of the charges up from a misdemeanor to a felony. The state argued that this trial was not about tawdry behavior or the admittedly sketchy witness characters.
Throughout the trial, Trump sat with his eyes closed and occasionally glared at the witnesses. Some thought he was sleeping, others believed he was thinking about Mar-a-Lago. Chances are he was thinking of retributions against the judge and some of the witnesses. But today, the previous president had a deer-in-the-lights look.
The defense argued nothing happened and even if it did, it was not illegal. They created GLOAT, meaning Michael Cohen was the: greatest liar of all time. Ironic. That was a gimmick, too cute by far and talked down to a jury consisting of attorneys, engineers and other professionals.
The state said that Donald Trump chose these witnesses: personal attorney Michael Cohen, closest adviser Hope Hicks, porn star Stormy Daniels and National Inquirer publishing executive David Pecker. The prosecutor did not get them from “the witness store.”
Judge Juan Merchan warned the defense attorneys in advance against the sentencing statement: “cannot send someone to prison.” Yet Trump’s attorney did exactly that hoping the jury could not unsee the prison statement. The judge rebuked the defense’s violation. All trial attorneys know this. Then the judge not only struck the statement, he forbade the jury from any discussion of this issue. Judge Merchan said he alone makes that decision and that the outcome was not set in stone.
The final arguments concluded today. Tomorrow morning the judge will give his legal instructions to the jury, then they will finish, likely by Friday.