Former President Trump asked Chief Judge Juan Melchán to dismiss the case, saying his defense team had already “won on every standard” in New York v. Trump.
“We have an incredible case. By any standard, we won this case. Any other judge would have thrown out this case, any other judge would have thrown this case out. And I think Mr. Juan Melchán will save himself and the nation and the government by doing a great service to the city by doing what everyone knows they should do,” President Trump said Tuesday. outside a Manhattan courtroom this morning.
“I’ll do something in the morning and probably come back in the afternoon. And then I’ll take a quick break. And by rest, I mean put the case to rest. I don’t take a break. I don’t take a break. I do.’Sometimes I want to rest and I can’t, but we do,” Trump added. Defense attorneys halted the case immediately after Trump’s remarks, and Marchan dismissed the jury until after Memorial Day.
Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, filed a motion for dismissal on Monday, saying there was no evidence of falsehoods in business records or filings related to the case. The case itself focuses on 34 counts of first-degree business record falsification. Prosecutors Alvin Bragg told jurors that Trump not only falsified business records related to payments to former porn star Stormy Daniels, but also committed another crime: conspiracy to promote or prevent an election. It must be proven that the false pretense was made in order to promote the act.
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Former President Trump waves as he leaves Trump Tower on his way to Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nickinson)
Prosecutors allege that Trump falsified business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to Daniels in an effort to silence allegations of an affair with her prior to the 2016 election. Mr. Trump maintains his innocence in the case and has repeatedly denied his relationship with Mr. Daniels.
Branche said there were “no false business filings” and no evidence of any ties to Trump.
“How on earth could it be a crime to continue hiding false stories from voters?” Blanche said.
NY V Trump: Michael Cohen admits stealing tens of thousands of dollars from former president’s business
Marchan told the court Monday he would rule on the motion to dismiss at a later date.
The prosecution team’s lead witness, Michael Cohen, admitted in testimony Monday that he stole thousands of dollars from the Trump Organization.
Former President Trump speaks to members of the media before entering court with attorney Todd Blanche at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 21, 2024 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
In his bombshell statement, Cohen revealed that he stole $60,000 from the Trump Organization by inflating payments to technology companies that provided services to the organization. Cohen paid former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg $50,000 out of his own pocket to tech company Red Finch in 2017, a payment that still needs to be repaid. He said that there was.
New York vs. Trump: Michael Cohen testifies that he is considering running for Congress
Weisselberg and Cohen calculated that Cohen’s repayments to him amounted to $420,000 for the alleged $130,000 payment to Daniels and $50,000 payment to Red Finch in 2017. The repayment plan was “enormous” compared to the amounts Cohen allegedly paid to Daniels and Red Finch, meaning he was able to avoid paying taxes and get thousands of dollars from the Trump Organization.
Cohen described his acceptance of the funds as “akin to self-help” and claimed he took them because he was “upset” about his annual bonus being cut.
New York v. President Trump resumes ongoing cross-examination of Michael Cohen as trial nears conclusion
Defendant Michael Cohen is cross-examined by defense attorney Todd Blanche in former President Trump’s criminal trial. (Reuters/Jane Rosenberg)
In his testimony Monday, Cohen also said he was considering a potential run for Congress because he has “the highest profile.”
Tuesday, the 20th day of trial in the case, began with continued testimony from defense witness Robert Costello, Cohen’s former legal representative who testified to a grand jury last year that Cohen was a “serial liar.”
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The courtroom became tense during Mr. Costello’s testimony on Monday, when Mr. Marchand spoke to the media and the jury after Mr. Costello visibly objected to the judge’s ruling, which received multiple objections from the prosecution team. I ordered him to leave.
Robert Costello (center) with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino in America’s Newsroom. (Robert Costello/America’s Newsroom)
After the jury left, Marchan said, “I would like to discuss proper courtroom decorum.” “I’m not going to tell you to hit because I’m the only one who can.”
Mr. Machan scolded Mr. Costello not to roll his eyes or react to the verdict. Before the jury returned to the courtroom, Mr Marchan asked Mr Costello: “Are you looking down on me?”
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President Trump said Monday that a ruling dismissing the lawsuit would restore Marchan’s “respect.”
“This case should be thrown out by the judge. If the judge takes it down…I think we can get some respect back. The appellate court has to intervene and something has to happen. Think about it. Please, the Republican Party, the two major political parties have nominated someone, and that candidate has been sitting here in a freezing cold room for nearly five weeks now listening to this story,” Trump said in court. He spoke on Monday after a hectic day.
