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As the first criminal trial against a former president, Donald Trump’s defence team argued that he had no intention to defraud US voters in the 2016 election. The case revolves around a payment made to a porn actor who alleged an extramarital affair with Trump.
Todd Blanche, representing Trump, emphasized that the alleged “hush money” case was about documents and not the alleged encounter with Stormy Daniels. The trial, which lasted five weeks and heard from 22 witnesses, including Daniels, is now in its final phase.
The prosecution claims that the payments made to Daniels were a deliberate attempt to influence the 2016 election by preventing damaging allegations about Trump from becoming public. The trial has also featured testimony from Hope Hicks and Michael Cohen, who paid Daniels to maintain silence.
If found guilty, Trump may face financial penalties but is unlikely to be jailed. The outcome of the trial could have implications for his political future, as he is currently a presidential candidate for the Republican Party. However, the trial has not significantly impacted his standing in the polls.
As the trial approaches a verdict, President Joe Biden’s campaign held a press conference outside the courthouse, where actor Robert De Niro criticized Trump’s actions. The final decision rests on whether jurors believe Cohen’s testimony linking Trump to the payments.
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In the midst of the trial, Trump continues to dismiss the case as “election interference” and asserts his innocence. Stay tuned for updates on the final verdict and implications for the upcoming election.
Additional reporting by Lauren Fedor