The trial of the “hush money” case against former US President Donald Trump concluded in the Manhattan Criminal Court on May 20th. The jury, selected by the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, began deliberating on April 22nd and may reach a verdict as early as next week. The case involves 34 counts of “felony falsifying of business records” related to payments made by Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair with Trump just before the 2016 presidential election.
Stormy Daniels had threatened to go public with her alleged encounter with Trump in 2016. Trump has consistently denied any such relationship with Daniels and pleaded not guilty to the 34 charges. The trial witnessed 20 witnesses being summoned over 15 days of proceedings, concluding with the closing arguments on May 20th. The jury will now deliberate in private before rendering their decision.
It is widely believed that this “hush money” case is the least impactful among the four criminal prosecutions Trump is facing, and it is the only one reaching trial before the November 5th presidential election showdown between Trump and current President Biden. The jury’s verdict could fall into three possible outcomes – acquittal, guilty (with or without imprisonment), or a hung jury leading to a mistrial. These various results could have different implications for Trump’s electoral prospects.
Legal experts have noted that while the prosecution presented strong evidence in the “hush money” case, they may have failed to establish the technical elements necessary to prove Trump’s guilt. The burden on the prosecution is to prove that Trump was aware of his alleged record forgery and that it was done to further another crime. The charges brought forth by the prosecutor Bragg did not result in legal action or stood in court.
The case heavily relies on Cohen’s testimony, a witness known for his history of deception, raising questions about the credibility of the evidence presented by the prosecution. The outcome of the trial and potential impact on Trump’s candidacy remain uncertain pending the jury’s verdict.
If Trump is acquitted, it would be perceived as a significant victory for him, as he has maintained that the trial is a politically motivated persecution to undermine his presidential campaign. The technical nature of the “hush money” case could pose challenges for the jury in reaching a conviction, especially given the reliance on Cohen’s testimony.
With multiple ongoing legal battles, including the cases in Washington D.C. and Georgia challenging the 2020 election results, the final decision in the “hush money” case may influence the larger political landscape. Both Democratic and Republican observers have varying opinions on the potential implications of a guilty verdict on Trump’s electoral chances.
The upcoming verdict could play a crucial role in shaping the narrative leading up to the presidential election, with some arguing that a guilty verdict might sway moderate Republicans and independent voters away from Trump, while others suggest it could be leveraged by Trump to rally his base.
As the legal process unfolds, the judiciary’s guidance and jury’s interpretation of the evidence will determine Trump’s fate. The possibility of an appeal, the complexity of the legal arguments, and the potential impact on the ongoing election dynamics add layers of uncertainty to the scenario. Regardless of the outcome, the “hush money” case marks a critical juncture in Trump’s legal challenges and their wider implications on the political landscape.