On Monday, May 20, 2024 Manhattan prosecutors rested their case for alleged falsification of business records against former President Trump.
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(New York, NY) – Convicted felon Michael Cohen has finished giving testimony in the non-disclosure agreement trial of former President Trump — and Manhattan prosecutors have rested their case. During cross-examination on Monday, Cohen testified he stole $30,000 from the Trump Organization in the past. For years he did legal work Trump, bus has since been disbarred.
Prosecutors made Cohen the star witness in the case, accusing Trump of falsifying business records — in connection to an alleged 2016 payment for $130,000 made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Trump denies he did anything wrong and legal scholars have pointed out no case of this kind has been brought in the past. Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s argument relies on tying to payment to campaign finance laws — but state level and federal prosecutors declined to bring a campaign finance violation case against Trump.
Judge Juan Merchan has said he expects closing arguments to get underway next Tuesday, May 28. Trump has accused Merchan of bias, and demanded he step down, because his daughter Loren Merchan is a high-profile Democratic strategist. In response, Merchan slapped Trump with a government gag order, fined him, held him in contempt of court nearly a dozen times, and threatened the former president with jail time.
One thing that remains unanswered is whether or not Trump will testify in his own defense. As of Monday that was reportedly unresolved.
