The opening arguments phase in the criminal trial against donald trump -the first of its kind to a former president of USA– in a court of NY This Monday evidenced the argumentative basis of both parties: there was a “criminal plan” according to the Prosecutor's Officeand for the defense it was mere “democracy.”
“The defendant orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 election, and then covered up the scheme by lying about his business records over and over again,” said Deputy District Attorney Matthew Colangelo, who gave the prosecution's opening statements at trial.
This, according to the deputy prosecutor's account, is the “core” of a plot orchestrated through American Media Inc. (AMI), the parent company of the National Enquirer, with payments executed by Cohen that were then to be reimbursed to the lawyer. , disguised as remuneration for their legal services.
While Colangelo provided details about this supposed plan, Trump simply shook his head, remained motionless and did not look at the prosecutor, and his eyes could even be seen closing on occasion.
For his part, Todd Blanche, one of the Republican politician's lawyers, left a resounding testimony: “The president (Trump) is innocent and did not commit any crime. They are just 34 pieces of paper with which he has nothing to do,” he assured.
Trump has declared his innocence throughout.
Photo:
“I have a 'spoiler' alert: there is nothing wrong with trying to influence an election. It's called democracy. They try to make it something sinister,” Blanche added, later accusing Stormy Daniels of having used the 'affair' to catapult his career and Cohen of being “obsessed with ending Trump.”
In addition to the arguments of the Prosecutor's Office and the defense, David Pecker was the first and only witness to appear this Monday, answering questions from prosecutor Joshua Steinglass about how they worked at the National Enquirer.
“We did checkbook journalism and paid for the stories,” confirmed Pecker, who assumed that he had “the final editorial word” on each topic in which more than 10,000 dollars.
The opening statements phase ended earlier than expected due to a medical issue involving one of the alternate jurors, but will resume tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. local time in New York (3:00 p.m. GMT).
Just before, starting at 9:30 local time (13:30 GMT), there will be a hearing on Trump's possible contempt of the “gag order”, which limits his public comments on the case, after it has been lavished on the Truth Social network, attacking key witnesses, court workers and Judge Juan Merchan himself.
Trump faces a maximum of four years in prison for each crime if convicted, but according to local media, it is unclear what the final sentence will be given the lack of precedent, and some even suggest that the judge could impose only evidentiary measures.
#Prosecutors #defense #show #weapons #criminal #case #Donald #Trump #arguments