NY v Trump: Defense says prosecutors ‘did not meet the burden of proof,’ former president is ‘innocent’

Protection attorneys for previous President Donald Trump told the jury Tuesday he is harmless, did not dedicate any crimes, and declared that Manhattan District Legal professional Alvin Bragg “did not fulfill the stress of evidence. Time period.” 

Defense attorney Todd Blanche shipped closing arguments Tuesday after a six-7 days-lengthy historic and unprecedented criminal demo of a former President of the United States. 

Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying organization records in the very first diploma. Trump pleaded not responsible. 

Prosecutors needed to prove over and above a realistic doubt that Trump falsified records to conceal a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, a pornographic performer, in the direct-up to the 2016 election to silence her about an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. The previous president has preserved his innocence.

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“Just about every of you will make a decision at the end of this case whether or not President Trump is responsible or not responsible,” Blanche reported. 

“President Trump is harmless. He did not dedicate any crimes. The district legal professional did not satisfy the stress of proof,” Blanche mentioned. “Interval.” 

Blanche added that the case is “uncomplicated,” and it is “not a guilty verdict.” 

“This case is about documents — it is a paper scenario,” Blanche discussed. “This circumstance is not about an face with Stormy Daniels 18 yrs back. It is not even about a nondisclosure agreement signed 8 several years in the past.” 

Blanche described that the prices are about no matter if Trump “experienced anything at all” to do with payments to his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen on his private accounting ledger. 

“The answer? The bookings had been exact and there was no intent to defraud and there was no conspiracy to impact the 2016 election,” Blanche said. “The proof does not include up.” 

Blanche instructed the jury that they are unable to convict Trump dependent on Cohen’s testimony, recalling that Trump’s ex-lawyer “took the stand and then lied.” 

“The documents are not phony and there was no intent to defraud,” he reported. 

Blanche explained that not 1 solitary bill was sent to Trump instantly, and spelled out that Cohen billed Trump “for products and services rendered.” Blanche reminded the jury that Cohen did render services as Trump’s own lawyer in 2017.

Blanche defined that even if the total of operate was nominal, there was a retainer agreement, which he explained is “how retainer agreements get the job done.”  Blanche reported Cohen was “on contact for President Trump.”

Blanche also explained that checks to Cohen have been not signed by Trump. 

“You just can’t convict President Trump,” Blanche reported. “Due to the fact from time to time President Trump seemed at the invoices…that is a extend and that is sensible question.”

Blanche claimed Cohen asked the jury to “overlook” files and think he was ready to perform for no cost. 

“Do you even think that for a second?” Blanche asked. 

Cohen testified that he was “reimbursed $420,000” for the $130,000 he compensated to Daniels. Cohen claimed former Trump Group CFO Allen Weisselberg recommended he “gross up” the payments and that Trump knew the facts of the reimbursement.

The prosecution presented Cohen with 11 checks totaling $420,000. Cohen verified that they ended up all acquired and deposited. The checks had a description of a “retainer,” which Cohen explained was bogus.

Blanche stated that the concept Trump would concur to shell out Cohen $420,000 when he only owed him $130,000 is “absurd.” Blanche claimed there is no evidence to “grossing it up” and no proof of a tax cure. 

Blanche went on to go over that the prosecution has to show that Trump “prompted” these entries with the objective and intent to defraud, but requested the jury: “Where by is the intent to defraud?” 

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Blanche claims there is a tax kind — a 1099 — to reflect the payments from a Trump individual account to Cohen.  

“There is absolutely nothing fake or misleading about 1099,” he said. “If there was a deep-rooted intent to defraud, why was it described to IRS as accurately what it was?” 

As for the alleged “catch and get rid of” plan with the Nationwide Enquirer, Blanche once again taken care of that the preparations were “flawlessly legal,” and an arrangement American Media Inc., the corporation that owns the publication, had been training for many years. 

 “There is almost nothing felony about Trump wanting beneficial information tales. But the strategy that constructive stories in Nationwide Enquirer could influence 2016 election is ‘preposterous,'” Blanche stated. 

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But Blanche did say David Pecker, the AMI CEO, admitted that he experienced “never ever heard” the expression “catch and destroy.” 

“That is meaningful,” Blanche explained. 

As for Cohen, Blanche said that “he is the human embodiment of affordable question.” 

“He lied to you repeatedly…he is biased and motivated,” Blanche reported, including that the jury should want a witness to explain to the truth of the matter. 

“Michael Cohen is the GLOAT,” Blanche mentioned. “He is the best liar of all time…his words and phrases are not able to be trusted…all people lies set them to the side for just a minute, that is ample to wander away.”  

Blanche reminded that Cohen lied to each Homes of Congress, federal judges, condition judges and spouse and children.  

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“You are not able to deliver someone to jail dependent upon the phrases of Michael Cohen,” Blanche reported, incorporating that a verdict desires to be reached dependent on proof from files and witnesses. “If you do that, this is a quite swift and simple not responsible verdict.”