NEW YORK: Donald Trump historic trial approaches its end on Tuesday, as closing arguments are addressed to the jury who will then deliberate and determine whether this is the first ever time a sitting US president has been found guilty of a crime.
The stakes cannot be overstated for him as an individual or for the country as a whole considering that less than half year left when Americans decide whether to return Trump into power in the White House.
It’s alleged that Trump manipulated business records in order to buy off his former lover Stormy Daniels who had threatened to expose their 2006 sexual encounter which could have ruined his chances of winning the presidential race in 2016.
If convicted, he faces up to four years behind bars on each of 34 counts, but legal experts suggest that being a first-time offender, he would probably avoid jail term.
Crucially, conviction would not disqualify Trump from running as Republican presidential candidate against Democrat Joe Biden in November.
This has taken nearly five weeks, more than twenty witnesses’ testimonies and some courtroom drama before closing arguments began. The prosecution and defense have one last chance to make their cases known before an all-male jury whose members remain anonymous.
Trump did not testify during his own defense; a decision that would put him at risk of self-incrimination and subjected him to grueling cross-examination by forensic expert witnesses.
Being quiet was something out of character for a man who prides himself on being constantly responsible and controlling everything around him.
Sometimes it was extremely uncomfortable particularly when Daniels recounted her supposed sexual encounter with Trump in explicit details making him sit through it all without saying anything
Speaking with journalists prior to court sessions every day as well after them, Trump frequently attacked Judge Juan Merchan– labeling him “corrupt” or “tyrant”- -and described the entire trial process as election disruption aimed at keeping away from campaigning.
During this final period there were a number of conservative politicians, including some potential vice-presidential hopefuls, who came to the courtroom and stood behind Trump while he addressed members of the press.
Thus Far, he had been found guilty of contempt of court ten times with Judge Merchan imposing a fine of $10,000 for violating gag orders that prevented him from attacking his accusers in public or even making comments about court proceedings.
The judge said closing statements would be taken up by Tuesday in their entirety.
He will then brief the jury on their tasks before they start their deliberations possibly on Wednesday.
There has to be unanimity for a verdict of guilty or not guilty. Otherwise, one dissent means an indecisive panel leading to the mistrial.
– Other cases –
Apart from Daniels, Michael Cohen was the chief prosecution witness against Trump; this former “fixer” became his sworn enemy after paying him $130 000 as hush money.
While explaining why these payments were made, Cohen told jurors that they were meant “to ensure that Mr Trump would not be affected by it and it won’t come out.”
In its cross-examination period which took most time among all other ways used by Trump’s defense lawyers to discredit Cohen included reminders about lying before Congress as well as serving jail terms following tax fraud convictions.
The defense only called two of their own witnesses before they rested.
Case in point, Trump has been indicted in Washington and Georgia for conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election aside from the New York’s ones.
Additionally, he is also charged in Florida with having mishandled classified documents when he left White House.
Those trials are not expected to occur until November at least.
