Donald Trump‘s defense team concluded their case on Tuesday without calling him to testify in the first criminal trial of a former president. This decision came after a heated exchange between a defense witness and one of the prosecutors.
Trump had initially indicated he would testify, stating, “I’m testifying. I tell the truth.” However, his stance softened over time. His son, Donald Trump Jr., present at the proceedings, supported his father’s decision, stating that it was the right choice.
Due to scheduling conflicts and the Memorial Day holiday, closing arguments won’t be heard until May 28. The final witness in the trial, Robert Costello, faced rigorous cross-examination regarding his interactions with Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen.
Costello denied allegations of touting his ties to Rudy Giuliani to Cohen but acknowledged referring to influential connections. He also faced criticism from the judge for his demeanor on the stand.
Costello testified that Cohen informed him Trump was unaware of the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels. Cohen later admitted he’d misled Costello due to his lack of trust, citing concerns about Giuliani.
Cohen’s credibility was questioned by Costello, who labeled him as unreliable. Trump’s attorney indicated the defense had no further witnesses after Costello’s testimony.
In a surprising admission, Cohen confessed to swindling $30,000 from Trump and his company, citing resentment over a reduced bonus. Despite these revelations, Trump maintains his innocence in the 34 counts related to falsifying business records.
