Trump hush-money trial: closing arguments set to begin – live | Donald Trump trials

May 28, 2024

Jurors prepare to deliberate in Trump hush money trial, closing arguments begin

Good morning. After more than four weeks in a frosty New York courtroom, nearly two dozen witnesses and 10 violations of gag orders, the prosecution and defense lawyers rested last week. Donald TrumpThe historic hush money criminal trial.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in a hush-money fraud case involving adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal, who prosecutors in the Manhattan district attorney’s office say he brokered bribes to the women through his then-lawyer. Michael Cohen To cover up allegations of infidelity that may have damaged his candidacy in the 2016 election.

President Trump’s hush money criminal trial: What you need to know

Closing arguments will begin today, followed by the jury’s verdict. The Manhattan jury of seven men and five women will consider the charges against the former US president and Republican front-runner. If the jury finds Trump guilty, he could face prison time.

I am here in court again today, please be with me.

The jury for the first criminal trial of a former president in US history is made up of seven men and five women who live in different parts of Manhattan, including the Upper East Side, Harlem, Hell’s Kitchen and the West Village.

“,”elementId”:”fc2fbbdc-204c-4d3a-b995-99ab883112b6″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

They come from a range of personal backgrounds and employment histories. Several jurors said they had no strong opinions on Trump, and a few said that they do not closely follow the news. The exact racial makeup of the jury, and the ages of the jurors, is unclear.

“,”elementId”:”945be199-d967-49e7-b2a1-725c9c268aae”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The full identities of the jury will remain anonymous because of security concerns, but during jury selection the individuals were asked to provide some personal details about themselves. Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the criminal hush-money trial, barred reporters from revealing the current and former employers of jurors and urged them not to use physical descriptors that could compromise their identity.

“,”elementId”:”326e4d79-2e62-47e2-baf2-efcc14f83fa8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Here’s what to know about them.

“,”elementId”:”1b64288b-a20b-4a91-af99-46b7824e43dc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”The jurors: who is on the Trump trial jury? “,”elementId”:”9a030416-a3ee-4b39-95bb-68f2083bc474″,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/18/jurors-trump-hush-money-trial-jury”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1716898767000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”08.19 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1716900242000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”08.44 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1716900242000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”08.44 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”08.44″,”title”:”Who’s on the Trump trial jury?”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Nick Robins-Early”}],”primaryDateLine”:”Tuesday, May 28, 2024 08:53 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First Published Tuesday, May 28, 2024 08:19 EDT”},{“id”:”6654ec628f08f180c2081b3e”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The defense rested in Donald Trump’s criminal trial last Tuesday without the former president himself testifying.

“,”elementId”:”89e433a4-50ee-48cc-a9ef-9ebc99f8cf30″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Trump had previously railed about being silenced and falsely claimed he was not allowed to testify, but ultimately elected of his own volition not to take the stand in his own defense.

“,”elementId”:”ae1313f6-6fe2-426e-b9c4-5a45b7195849″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The former president previously said he would “absolutely” testify in his hush-money trial, telling reporters last month:

“,”elementId”:”dfb4f593-0149-44a7-9f6e-04c8ca7f2e5a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

I’m testifying. I tell the truth, I mean, all I can do is tell the truth. And the truth is that there is no case.

\n

“,”elementId”:”6c69f653-1696-4e17-9188-eac563fc01dd”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Trump’s decision not to testify came without fanfare. The move was not surprising – defendants in criminal cases rarely testify, because they would be subject to cross-examination, during which they could easily say something that harms their defense – but followed several instances of Trump claiming he was not allowed to do so.

“,”elementId”:”06ea17f0-339d-44d4-b2e6-e9a688fe3721″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The judge, Juan Merchan, had gone so far as to address Trump’s claims, saying: “I want to stress, Mr Trump, that you have an absolute right to testify at trial,” and adding that the gag order preventing Trump from verbally attacking witnesses did not affect his right to take the stand.

“,”elementId”:”d379391d-372c-4041-a501-0c9dbe4e0098″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1716898767000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”08.19 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1716899465000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”08.31 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1716899237000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”08.27 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”08.27″,”title”:”Trump Did Not Testify in His Criminal Trial”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Tuesday, May 28, 2024 08:53 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First Published Tuesday, May 28, 2024 08:19 EDT”},{“id”:”6650fa5d8f08ae2bcbf27d44″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Good morning. After more than four weeks in a freezing New York courtroom, nearly two dozen witnesses and 10 gag order violations, lawyers for the prosecution and defense last week rested in Donald Trump’s historic criminal hush-money trial.

“,”elementId”:”a56d3148-d30d-4c9b-8160-bf3b281c3950″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of felony falsification of business records over an alleged hush-money scheme involving the adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal. Prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorney say that Trump facilitated payoffs to the women through his then attorney Michael Cohen to cover up alleged extramarital liaisons that could have damaged his candidacy in the 2016 election.

“,”elementId”:”e361994e-5697-4da8-b653-2e03a4fce0fe”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Trump’s criminal hush-money trial: what to know

“,”elementId”:”437ff147-b307-43e6-94a2-8d5960239ac2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

A guide to Trump’s hush-money trial – so far

The jurors: who is on the Trump trial jury?

From Michael Cohen to Stormy Daniels: the key players

“,”elementId”:”1ac63694-7396-4cc3-9c16-1dd1f76906c3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Closing arguments will begin today, and then the jury will start deliberations. A jury of seven men and five women who live in Manhattan will have to consider the charges against the former US president and presumptive Republican nominee. If they find Trump guilty, he could face prison time.

“,”elementId”:”7eb4cd48-046b-4e32-8a31-798e15fa6c3d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

We’re at the courthouse again today. Stay with us.

“,”elementId”:”cd2aa237-c446-45c0-bc3d-cddb57317170″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:true,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1716898767000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”08.19 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1716898858000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”08.20 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1716898767000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”08.19 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”08.19″,”title”:”Jurors prepare to deliberate as closing arguments begin in Trump hush money trial”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Tuesday, May 28, 2024 08:53 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published Tuesday, May 28, 2024 08:19 EDT”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”,”absoluteServerTimes”:false}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false,”inAdvertisingPartnerABTest”:false,”assetOrigin”:”https://assets.guim.co.uk/”}”>

Important Events

Donald Trump left Trump Tower on Tuesday morning to head to court.

Outside the Manhattan courthouse, where closing arguments were due to begin shortly, a few supporters appeared to be awaiting his arrival.

The defense will present its case first before the prosecution wraps up its case, with closing arguments expected to last all day.

Supporters of Donald Trump await his arrival near Manhattan Criminal Court. Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Who are the jurors in the Trump trial?

Nick Robbins Early

The jury for the first criminal trial of a former president in U.S. history will be made up of seven men and five women from various parts of Manhattan, including the Upper East Side, Harlem, Hell’s Kitchen and the West Village.

The jurors come from a wide range of personal and professional backgrounds. Some said they don’t have strong opinions about Trump, and several said they don’t follow the news closely. The exact racial makeup and ages of the jurors are unknown.

Jurors’ full identities will remain anonymous due to safety concerns, but they were asked to provide personal information about themselves during jury selection. Juan Merchan Prosecutors in the hush money criminal trial have barred reporters from revealing the jurors’ current or former employers and have asked them not to use physical characteristics that could compromise the jurors’ identities.

Here’s what you need to know about them:

Before the jury began its verdict, the judge Juan Merchan He is expected to explain to jurors the law that applies to the case.

Jury instructions provide a roadmap of what jurors can and cannot consider in their evaluation. Donald TrumpHe was given a guilty or not guilty plea, according to the Associated Press.

Judge Marchan last week rejected a request by Trump’s lawyers to tell the jury that the types of hush money payments at issue in Trump’s lawsuit are not inherently illegal, saying such instructions were unnecessary.

Trump did not testify in his criminal trial

The defender Donald TrumpThe former president’s criminal trial began last Tuesday, without his own testimony.

Trump had previously railed against being silenced, falsely claiming he was not permitted to testify, but ultimately chose not to take the stand in his own defense.

The former president told reporters last month that he would “absolutely” testify in the hush money trial.

I am testifying, I am telling the truth, which means all I can do is tell the truth, and the truth is, there is no case.

Trump’s decision not to testify came without any fanfare. The move was not surprising. Defendants in criminal cases rarely testify because they are subject to cross-examination and could easily say things that could damage their defense. But there have been several instances in which Trump has argued that he was not allowed to testify.

judge, Juan Merchan “I want to emphasize, Mr. Trump, that you have an absolute right to testify at trial,” he said, referring to Trump’s claims, adding that a gag order banning Trump from verbally attacking witnesses does not affect his right to take the stand.