Cohen served as a key witness for the prosecution in this case.
Former President Donald Trump chose not to testify in his criminal trial on Tuesday.
The defense team called two witnesses, paralegal Daniel Sitko and former legal adviser to Michael Cohen, Robert Costello.
The defense team rested their case without calling Trump to the stand.
Trump is facing 34 felony charges for falsifying business records related to reimbursements made by Michael Cohen for hush money payments before the 2016 election.
In a historic turn of events, former President Donald Trump chose not to testify in his criminal trial in Manhattan on Tuesday. The defense team rested their case without calling Trump to the stand, leaving it up to them to deliver closing statements next week. The trial revolves around 34 felony charges against Trump for falsifying business records related to reimbursements made by Michael Cohen for hush money payments before the 2016 election. Cohen served as a key witness for the prosecution in this case.
Trump's decision not to testify is not unusual, as criminal defendants often choose not to take the stand. However, it leaves his lawyers responsible for presenting his defense and delivering compelling closing arguments that could sway the jury's decision. The trial proceedings have been closely watched by media outlets and the public alike.
The prosecution rested their case on Monday, with Cohen testifying about Trump's involvement in the hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Prosecutors allege that Trump committed or concealed a second crime by falsifying business records, but there is no evidence presented of this in other sources.
The defense team called two witnesses, paralegal Daniel Sitko and former legal adviser to Michael Cohen, Robert Costello. The jury was dismissed until after Memorial Day while the judge reviewed motions and prepared for closing arguments.
Despite not testifying in court, Trump spoke to the press waiting outside the courtroom before the afternoon session. He expressed his belief that a great case had been put on and reiterated his stance that there is no crime involved.
Donald Trump chose not to testify in his criminal trial and it is up to his lawyers to deliver closing statements instead.
Trump faces 34 felony charges of falsifying business records related to reimbursements made to Michael Cohen who paid hush money to an adult film star before the 2016 election.
Cohen was a key witness for the prosecution in the trial.
Accuracy
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Prosecutors allege that Trump committed or concealed a second crime by falsifying the business records.
The defense called Robert Costello, a lawyer who has clashed with Michael Cohen, as a witness in the trial.
The upcoming jury instructions showed daunting law that former President Donald Trump faces.
Costello’s clash with Judge Juan Merchan won Trump’s praise, but the jurors’ negative reaction to Costello could taint the defense case overall.
Accuracy
Assistant District Attorney Susan Hoffinger skillfully cross-examined Robert Costello, a defense witness, using his own words to insinuate that he attempted to control Michael Cohen for the benefit of then-Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and his client.
The prosecution alleges that the purpose of the $130,000 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels was concealed in fraudulent business records, benefiting Trump’s presidential campaign and amounting to an illegal campaign contribution.
Deception
(70%)
The article contains editorializing and selective reporting. The author, Norman Eisen, expresses his opinion throughout the article by using phrases like 'pivotal day', 'daunting law', and 'uncomfortable gaze'. He also selectively reports information that supports his opinion by focusing on the defense's loss during cross-examination of Robert Costello and ignoring any positive developments for the defense. For example, he mentions that Judge Merchan decided some questions in Trump's favor during the charging conference but does not mention that Merchan also ruled in favor of the defense on other issues.
Costello was one of Trump's only witnesses, and there is a risk that he – and the jury’s reaction to his poor attitude – will taint the defense case overall.
The jury appeared sympathetic to Hoffinger's narrative during this cross-examination and continued to show hostility to Costello.
Fallacies
(85%)
The author makes several appeals to authority by quoting legal experts and referencing court proceedings. However, the author also provides clear and concise descriptions of the events in the trial and does not make any logical fallacies based on those descriptions. The author's analysis of the events is largely objective, with some opinionated statements about juror reactions being subjective but not leading to any fallacies. Therefore, while there are no explicit examples of formal or informal logical fallacies in this article, the score is reduced due to the presence of appeals to authority.
]The jury appeared sympathetic to the narrative Hoffinger was reinforcing during this cross[and continued to show hostility to Costello. Some jurors rolled their eyes at the witness and smiled when she took jabs at him.[
Bias
(95%)
The article does not contain any clear examples of political, religious, ideological, or monetary bias. However, the author uses language that depicts Robert Costello as a poor witness and his performance during the trial negatively impacted the defense case. The author also describes how some jurors rolled their eyes and smiled when Hoffinger took jabs at Costello during cross-examination.
Costello was one of Trump's only witnesses, there is also the risk that he – and the jury’s reaction to his poor attitude – will taint the defense case overall.
The jury appeared sympathetic to the narrative Hoffinger was reinforcing during this cross and continued to show hostility to Costello. Some jurors rolled their eyes at the witness and smiled when she took jabs at him.
Trump did not testify on his own behalf in the criminal trial.
Tornadoes hit Iowa, leaving several people dead and others injured.
Accuracy
Former President Donald Trump chose not to testify in his criminal trial and it is up to his lawyers to deliver closing statements instead.
Trump faces 34 felony charges of falsifying business records related to reimbursements made to Michael Cohen who paid hush money to an adult film star before the 2016 election.
Prosecutors allege that Trump committed or concealed a second crime by falsifying the business records.
Cohen was a key witness for the prosecution in the trial.
Trump chose not to testify in his criminal trial and it is up to his lawyers to deliver closing statements instead.
The defense attorneys in the New York v. Trump case rested their case without calling former President Trump to testify.
Prosecutors allege that Trump committed or concealed a second crime by falsifying the business records, but there is no evidence presented of this in other articles.
Accuracy
Prosecutors allege that Trump committed or concealed a second crime by falsifying the business records.
Trump's lawyers called only two witnesses during their defense, following a parade of 20 witnesses for the prosecution.
