Trump's lawyer seeks exemption at the hush-money court trial.
"President Trump's attorney asserted his innocence at the beginning of his speech, stating that the lack of evidence presented in the past five weeks equates to an 'acquittal.' "
The first trial in history against a previous US president will have the closing argument for the prosecution delivered on Tuesday, with the twelve jurors' deliberations scheduled to commence on Wednesday.
The former Republican presidential candidate stands accused of forging business documents to conceal a hush money payment made to Stormy Daniels, a former adult film actress. This payment was allegedly used to ensure Daniels stayed silent about an alleged affair with Trump before the 2016 election. Trump denies the affair.
The $130,000 (approximately €120,000 today) hush money was transfered by Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen. Cohen testified for the prosecution during the trial, declaring that he acted with Trump's approval to make the payment. The money was later reimbursed by the Trump Organization, as per the indictment, and misrepresented as legal fees.
Trump is charged with forging business documents in a total of 34 counts. The prosecution also views the hush money payment as an illegal interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Should the jury deem Trump guilty in this case, the judge will determine the sentencing at a later time. While a prison sentence is possible, experts predict that probation or a fine would be more likely. Trump regards the trial as a politically motivated effort to disrupt his election campaign against President Joe Biden.
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- Todd Blanche, a renowned lawyer representing Donald Trump, argued during the hush-money trial's closing statement that the lack of substantial evidence presented against his client equates to an 'acquittal.'
- In a surprising turn of events, Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, testified for the prosecution during the trial, affirming that he acted with Trump's approval to facilitate the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels.
- The Republicans have been closely following the ongoing trial of Trump, who faces 34 counts of forging business documents in relation to the $130,000 hush money payment made to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
- Despite the hush money payment being viewed as an illegal interference in the 2016 presidential election by the prosecution, legal experts predict that if Trump is found guilty, probation or a fine would be more likely than a prison sentence.
- Stormy Daniels' allegations of an affair with then-businessman Donald Trump before the 2016 election led to a hush money process orchestrated by Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen and the US President's subsequent trial.
Source: www.stern.de
