Former President Donald Trump is demanding that the judge presiding over the NY v. Trump trial, Juan Merchan, dismiss the case in order to earn back respect. Trump’s defense attorney, Todd Blanche, has motioned for an order of dismissal, arguing that there has been no evidence of false business records related to the case. The case focuses on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, specifically related to payments to Stormy Daniels. The prosecution team claims that Trump falsified business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to Daniels before the 2016 election to silence her claims of an affair with Trump.
During the trial, former Trump attorney Michael Cohen admitted to stealing thousands of dollars from the Trump Organization by overstating payments to a tech company. Cohen claimed that he stole $30,000 by inflating the amount he paid the tech firm. He also mentioned that the repayment to him for the payments to Daniels and the tech company was calculated at $420,000. Legal experts have criticized Cohen’s credibility following his admission of stealing from the organization. The defense has called their own witnesses, including Daniel Sitko and Robert Costello, who referred to Cohen as a “serial liar.”
The courtroom became tense during Costello’s testimony, leading the judge to reprimand him for his reactions to rulings and comments. The trial continues with the cross-examination of Cohen and is expected to conclude with closing arguments in the near future. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in the case, calling it a “sham” and “witch hunt” orchestrated by the Biden administration and the Department of Justice ahead of the 2024 election. He has criticized the trial for interfering with his campaign efforts and has expressed frustration over the proceedings that have kept him away from campaign events.
Trump insists that the case should be terminated immediately and that New York State needs to rebuild its legal system. He argues that there were no crimes committed and that he wants to get back to representing millions of people through his campaign efforts. The defense team maintains that there were no false business filings and no evidence connecting Trump to any criminal activity. The judge has yet to rule on the motion to dismiss, while the prosecution team continues to present their case, including Cohen’s admission of stealing from the organization. The trial has been marked by tensions in the courtroom and scrutiny over the credibility of witnesses, including Cohen.
