Viewpoint: The prosecution is accumulating wins, causing concern for Trump.
In the initial two weeks of trial, the prosecution concentrated on the supposed objective behind the creation of the 34 fabricated documents at the heart of the case: election and campaign-related criminal offenses. However, on the commencement of week three, we delved into the other half of the case: the 34 documents themselves, with McConney serving as the tour guide for their inception. As with previous witnesses, both sides secured specific victories - but the prosecution accumulated the majority of points.
Similar to former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who played a pivotal role in the initial part of the case where the prosecution alleged that Trump orchestrated a "catch and kill" scheme to impact the 2016 presidential election, McConney served as a long-standing Trump ally. He was a financial professional at the Trump Organization for many years who proved to be an apt guide to the second phase of the prosecution's argument. Tall, stocky, with long white hair reaching down to his shoulders and a white goatee, he was dressed as one might anticipate from an accounting professional: gray suit, gray tie, white shirt. It appeared that the only colors in his artistic palette were gray and white.
During direct questioning led by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo, McConney strolled the jury through the "grossed up" - per the notes of ex-Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg - reimbursement scheme in which Michael Cohen was reimbursed for hush money payments.
Two stunning documents emerged from the plethora that the prosecution used McConney to present: on two separate single sheets, the reimbursement arrangement was detailed. Initially, $180,000 would travel from Trump to Cohen: a recompense for the $130,000 given to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, supplemented by an additional $50,000 for an unrelated issue. To compensate for the taxes Cohen would incur, another $180,000 was incorporated. Finally, Trump would provide Cohen an additional $60,000 as a bonus. McConney led jurors through these two pages outlining all this - and numerous more documents revealing the supposedly illicit reimbursement scheme's intricacies.
When defense attorney Emil Bove commenced cross-examining McConney, he borrowed the same approach he'd employed with prior witnesses. He convincingly presented that McConney lacked any direct proof of Trump's involvement. The controller agreed that he "rarely conversed" with Trump while at the Trump Organization, never discussed these issues with Cohen, and was never asked by Trump to make the challenged business entries.
Then, following a midday recess, another member of the Trump Organization accounting staff, Accounts Payable Supervisor Deborah Tarasoff, took the stand. The prosecution used her to introduce further vital documents substantiating the supposed scheme; the defense cross-examined her to highlight her distance from Trump and his role in the plot.
This approach would be my selection for witnesses like McConney and Tarasoff if I were on the defense (and indeed, I predicted it on-air). Unfortunately for Trump, District Attorney Alvin Bragg is amassing more proof: a sequence of witnesses, documents, and additional evidence (even audio tapes) supporting both the alleged conspiracy and the cover-up. Notably, Pecker and former White House communications director Hope Hicksdid testify to the jury about their discussions with Trump, enhancing the jury's comprehension of his intention.
We still have a significant way to go on both parts of the case, but prosecutors are achieving more points to date. As such, although Trump may be pleased with his legal team's exertions, he can't be excessively optimistic regarding the general outcome based on the scorecard.
Read also:
- This will change in December
- Dikes withstand water masses so far - Scholz holds out the prospect of help
- Fireworks and parties ring in 2024 - turn of the year overshadowed by conflicts
- Attacks on ships in the Red Sea: shipping companies avoid important trade route
Source: edition.cnn.com
