Trump trial: Biden calls Trump's remarks 'dangerous'

Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his hush money trial.

Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 felony counts related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been convicted on criminal charges.

Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.

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May 30, 5:36 pm

Trump guilty on all 34 counts

PHOTO: Illustration
People of the State of NY v Donald J Trump - Guilty on All counts.
ABC News

May 28, 2024, 12:33 PM EDT

Michael Cohen is 'MVP of liars,' defense says

Defense attorney Todd Blanche continued to argue that the jury cannot trust Cohen's testimony as a whole based on the misstatements they highlighted.

"We happened to catch him in a lie," Blanche said. "We put them into evidence, and now you know it happened."

Blanche argued that the lie highlighted that Cohen didn't care about his oath to tell the truth.

"For that we have an oath, we have an oath that every witness takes when they testify before you the jury. It matters -- the oath matters to most. He lied," Blanche said, as the jury watched attentively.

Blanche told the jury that Michael Cohen lied to his banker, his family, his wife, every single reporter he speaks to, prosecutors, and federal judges.

"He lied to you, make no mistake about it," said Blanche.

"He's literally like an MVP of liars," Blanche said of Cohen.

May 28, 2024, 12:28 PM EDT

'It was a lie!' Blanche shouts regarding Cohen testimony

Defense attorney Todd Blanche told jurors that Michael Cohen's one-time legal adviser Robert Costello -- the only substantive defense witness -- offered testimony to demonstrate that Cohen lied on the witness stand.

Blanche argued that Cohen lied about what he asked of Costello and how often they communicated.

"It's just another example of Mr. Cohen taking the witness stand and lying to you," Blanche said, suggesting that Cohen lied on the stand enough times that the jury should consider throwing out his entire testimony.

"I don't know how many lies are enough lies just to reject Mr. Cohen's testimony ... big or small, meaningful or not meaningful, but that was a lie," Blanche said.

Blanche argued that prosecutors attempted to prop up Cohen's credibility by offering phone records to corroborate his testimony, but the strategy backfired.

Former President Donald Trump sits in court during his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, May 28, 2024.
Spencer Platt/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

"They showed him phone records and they showed him calls between him and others to help his testimony seem more corroborate and more credible," Blanche said. "We all know how that ended."

Raising his voice, Blanche reminded the jury about the inconsistency he highlighted in Cohen's testimony about a October 24, 2016, phone call.

"It was a lie!" Blanche shouted. "That was a lie and he got caught red-handed!"

"That is perjury!" Blanche shouted, drawing out each syllable.

"They are perfectly happy to have a witness commit perjury to lie to you," Blanche said, prompting an objection from prosecutors.

"Sustained," said Judge Merchan.

May 28, 2024, 12:20 PM EDT

Daniels testified to 'embarrass' Trump, defense says

Defense attorney Todd Blanche suggested to the jury why Stormy Daniels was called as a witness, given there was no dispute about a nondisclosure agreement being signed and that she knew nothing about the records in question.

"I'll tell you why -- they did it to try to inflame your emotions. They did it to try to embarrass President Trump" Blanche said.

It drew a loud objection from prosecutors that was overruled.

Trump has disputed the sexual encounter ever happened.

May 28, 2024, 12:16 PM EDT

Defense argues Trump was concerned about family

Defense attorney Todd Blanche says argued that Trump's concern about the "Access Hollywood" tape was primarily related to his family, not his campaign.

"Nobody wants their family exposed to that type of story," Blanche said. "He was concerned about his family, he was concerned about his wife."

Prosecutors have alleged that the release of the "Access Hollywood" tape motivated Trump to buy Daniels' story to help his political ambitions, but defense attorneys say Trump's main concern in October 2016 -- regarding both the "Access Hollywood" tape and Stormy Daniels allegations -- was his family.

"It was not a doomsday event," Blanche said of the "Access Hollywood" tape. "He never thought it was going to cause him to lose the campaign, and indeed it didn't."

But Blanche argued that Michael Cohen overreacted to the "Access Hollywood" story, and that Cohen created a problem for him to fix.

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