Retired Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz recently stated his belief that the New York prosecutor who brought forth a criminal case against former President Donald Trump should instead be investigated. He argued that if the payments made were to avoid exposure and publicity, then it would constitute extortion, with Trump being the victim of a serious crime. However, Dershowitz stated that if the money was paid to avoid a lawsuit, it would be considered a legal expense.
The Epoch Times contacted the district attorney’s office for comment on this matter. During the trial, which has lasted more than six weeks, both prosecutors and defense attorneys rested their respective cases. The judge, Juan Merchan, instructed the jury to return on Tuesday following Memorial Day to listen to closing arguments in the case.
In related news, Michael Cohen, who was a key witness for the prosecution, testified that he believes President Trump directed him to make the payments to an adult film performer and did so to influence the outcome of the 2016 election, aligning with the prosecutor’s arguments. In response, the former president’s legal team called upon Robert Costello, a former legal advisor for Cohen, who testified that he told him in 2018 that President Trump was not involved in the payment plan.
Attorneys for the former president did not call him to testify during the trial, which is a common practice in criminal cases. The president shared with a local ABC affiliate station that he chose not to take the stand due to the judge’s rulings and lack of evidence against him. He stated, “He made rulings that make it very difficult to testify. Why testify when they have no case.
This development comes as a New York appeals court last week denied former President Donald Trump’s bid to have Judge Juan Merchan recuse himself in his Manhattan criminal case, which was filed six weeks prior. In mid-April, the former president’s legal team sought Merchan’s recusal because his daughter works for a consulting firm for Democratic Party candidates. However, a panel of appeals court judges determined that Trump did not provide enough evidence to show that Judge Merchan overstepped his authority.
Throughout the trial, President Trump has been subjected to a gag order, prohibiting him from commenting on prosecutors’ staffers, witnesses, court staff, and Judge Merchan’s family. He has repeatedly criticized the judge for being conflicted and biased. Judge Merchan expects closings to take a full day, possibly longer, before jurors are instructed in the law and sent off to deliberate. Closings serve as the last opportunity for each side to go over their case and attempt to persuade the jury to acquit or convict. Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass is expected to deliver the prosecution’s closing argument, while the defense will likely highlight inconsistencies and credibility issues in key witnesses, alongside emphasizing Trump’s claim of innocence.