Former President Donald Trump recently decided not to testify in his New York criminal trial, attributing his choice to unfavorable judicial rulings and a weak case from the prosecution. Trump discussed his decision on WABC Radio, highlighting the influence of New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan’s rulings, which he believed hindered his ability to defend himself effectively. He expressed concerns that his entire past could be scrutinized in court, despite claiming a commendable history.
“Judge Merchan… had Steve Bannon's case, had Allen Weisselberg's case… somehow, he randomly also gets Donald Trump. That's not the way the system works.”
Trump lawyer Alina Habba makes a brilliant case Judge Merchan is an asset of the Biden regime pic.twitter.com/FBfLXO2GEG
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) May 23, 2024
During the trial, Justice Merchan permitted prosecutors to question Trump about various other legal matters, including a civil case involving writer E. Jean Carroll. Additionally, testimony was allowed from Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, an adult entertainment performer who described an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. This testimony led Trump’s defense to request a mistrial, which was denied by the judge, although he acknowledged that some comments might have been better left unmade.
Another significant aspect of the trial was the admission of claims by former model Karen McDougal, who alleged she was paid to remain silent about an affair with Trump years before his presidency, a claim Trump denies. Early in the trial, Trump accused Justice Merchan of trying to sensationalize the proceedings, unrelated to the primary accusations of the case.
It is laughable that Judge Juan Merchan wants decorum in his courtroom after he allowed salacious and irrelevant testimony from Stormy Daniels.
Judge Merchan clearly showed he is not concerned about the civil rights of a criminal defendant and went out of his way to bar… pic.twitter.com/tubjxFwLXy
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Mike Davis
Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records, which prosecutors argue was done to cover up other crimes, elevating the charges to felonies. This trial marks the first criminal trial against a former U.S. president. The charges are linked to alleged election interference through payments made under a non-disclosure agreement to Clifford during the 2016 campaign, which Trump’s lawyers claim were routine and lawful.
Trump also criticized the broader legal environment in New York, describing his cases there as “rigged” and citing previous successes in overturning some judicial decisions in a separate civil case. He reiterated that the lack of a substantial case from the prosecution influenced his decision not to testify, labeling the system as corrupt.
The trial moved towards closure as both the prosecution and defense rested their cases, with final arguments focusing on the legal definitions of “unlawful” and “criminal” actions. The prosecution maintained that proving a conspiracy does not require showing criminal intent, whereas Trump’s lawyers argued that there was no intent to defraud or any illegal action on Trump’s part.
Justice Merchan’s forthcoming rulings will be crucial in determining whether the case proceeds to jury deliberation and how the jury will interpret the charges. Deliberations are expected to begin next week.
Major Points
- Former President Donald Trump opted not to testify in his New York criminal trial, citing unfavorable rulings by Justice Juan Merchan and a weak case from the prosecution.
- Justice Merchan permitted questioning about Trump’s past and other legal cases, including testimony from adult performer Stormy Daniels, which led to a denied request for a mistrial by Trump’s defense.
- Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records to allegedly hide other crimes, marking the first criminal trial against a former U.S. president.
- Trump criticized the legal proceedings as “rigged” and claimed his non-testimony was due to the prosecution lacking a substantial case.
- The trial is concluding, with jury deliberations expected to start next week, focusing on the definitions of “unlawful” and “criminal” actions in the charges.
Susan Guglielmo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News