Former US president Donald Trump is facing a historic hush money trial in which he is accused of falsifying business records to cover up payments made to an adult actress. The trial concluded with closing arguments on Tuesday, setting the stage for jury deliberations to begin. Prosecutors allege that payments were made to Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to silence Stormy Daniels about an alleged affair with Trump. The reimbursements to Cohen were allegedly falsely logged as legal expenses to hide the true nature of the transactions, which Trump denies. If convicted, Trump could face up to four years in prison.
During closing arguments, Trump’s defense attorney attacked Cohen’s credibility, portraying him as a liar with a personal vendetta against Trump. The defense emphasized that the case rests on Cohen’s testimony and urged jurors to consider his motives and past lies. Prosecutors, however, defended Cohen’s reliability as a witness and highlighted his firsthand knowledge of the payments. The prosecution argued that the case revolves around a scheme to influence the 2016 election by concealing damaging information about Trump, rather than protecting his reputation or family.
Prosecutors stressed that the payments to Daniels were part of a larger conspiracy and cover-up to deceive voters and manipulate the election outcome. They argued that Trump’s actions were intended to defraud the public and hide unfavorable stories that could have impacted the campaign. The defense countered by claiming that every campaign involves a certain level of conspiracy to promote a candidate, and Trump’s efforts to suppress negative stories were no different. The defense presented the notion that protecting Trump’s candidacy in 2016 was not an illegal act.
Outside the courthouse, both the Trump and Biden campaigns sought to capitalize on the trial’s media coverage, holding press conferences to attack each other. Actor Robert De Niro and police officers who defended the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, appeared at the Biden campaign’s event, criticizing Trump as a threat to the country. Trump’s campaign advisers responded by accusing the Biden campaign of politicizing the trial and staging a campaign event. The language used in closing arguments and press conferences was clearly politicized, reflecting the contentious nature of the trial and its political implications.
The defense’s use of the term “government” to refer to the prosecution and the prosecution’s invocation of the phrase “big lie” highlighted the political undertones of the trial. Trump and his supporters have framed the case as part of a politically motivated effort to undermine his credibility and re-election campaign. However, the trial was initiated by local prosecutors in Manhattan, separate from federal cases brought by the Justice Department, undermining claims of political interference. By using charged language and evoking conspiracy theories, both sides underscored the intense political environment surrounding Trump’s trial and its potential implications for his future.
