The Daily Blast: Why Trump Is “Very Close” to a Conviction, Per This Former Prosecutor
May 21, 2024
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Former prosecutor and New York Law School professor Rebecca Roiphe discusses the likelihood of a conviction in Trump's hush money trial, highlighting the prosecution's case, challenges to witness credibility, and the possibility of Trump beating the rap.
Proving Trump's direct involvement in falsifying business records remains a challenge for the prosecution, despite ample evidence.
Trump's potential testimony poses risks for his defense, strengthening the case against him.
Deep dives
Prosecution Rests Case in Donald Trump's Hush Money Trial
The prosecution has rested its case in Donald Trump's Hush Money Trial in Manhattan after efforts to discredit key witness Michael Cohen. With closing arguments expected, the focus is on proving Trump's involvement in falsifying business records to conceal the Hush Money scheme during the 2016 election.
Challenges in Establishing Trump's Involvement
Despite presenting ample evidence, a key challenge remains in proving Trump's direct involvement in causing the falsification of business records. Testimonies suggest Trump's knowledge and control over the scheme, leading to circumstantial evidence linking him to the illegal activities. Establishing Trump's role without solely relying on Cohen's testimony is crucial for the prosecution.
Defense Strategies and Witness Credibility
Trump's defense team aims to undermine Cohen's credibility, highlighting his criminal past. However, Cohen's admissions and corroborating evidence weaken this defense strategy. The use of witnesses like Robert Costello to discredit Cohen may backfire, with Costello's behavior potentially affecting the defense's credibility. Trump's potential testimony remains uncertain, posing risks and challenges for his defense.
Potential Trial Outcome and Case Strength
Despite potential for a hung jury, confidence in a conviction remains high due to the prosecution's strong case presentation. While uncertainties exist, the case against Trump is solid but not without vulnerabilities. The outcome hinges on jury interpretation and connection of evidence, with a conviction seeming probable but not guaranteed.
On Monday, the prosecution rested its case in Donald Trump’s hush money trial in Manhattan. This comes after Trump’s defense team concluded their efforts to destroy former Trump fixer Michael Cohen’s credibility as one of the chief witnesses against Trump. So has the prosecution proven its case? We talked to New York Law School professor Rebecca Roiphe, who has prosecuted cases like these in New York, about why she thinks a conviction is now likely—even as it still remains very possible that Trump could beat the rap.