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.
People of the State of NY v Donald J Trump - Guilty on All counts.
ABC News
May 28, 2024, 7:26 PM EDT
Prosecutor stresses Cohen kept Trump in the loop
Prosecutor Josh Steinglass argued that Michael Cohen kept Trump in the loop because he sought Trump's credit.
"If Cohen accomplished something for Mr. Trump, he wanted Mr. Trump to know immediately," Steinglass said.
Steinglass highlighted testimony from former Trump aide Hope Hicks to highlight Cohen's credit-seeking nature.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump looks on as prosecutor Joshua Steinglass shows a C-SPAN video clip of Trump in Greensboro, on a screen during Trump's criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City, May 28, 2024 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
"I didn't know Michael to be an especially charitable person, um, or selfless person. He's the kind of person who seeks credit," Hicks testified.
"Why would the defendant be kept in the dark about the Daniels' NDA?" Steinglass asked the jury, referring to the nondisclosure agreement. "It defies common sense."
May 28, 2024, 7:23 PM EDT
'Michael Cohen is not some rogue actor,' state says
More than four hours into his summation, Prosecutor Josh Steinglass returned to the timelines of the Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels payoffs.
Steinglass argued that Cohen attempted to delay the Stormy Daniels payment until after the 2016 election at the direction of Trump.
"You think Cohen would have the audacity to take that chance without the defendant saying so?" Steinglass said. "Cohen did that -- that strategy of delay -- because that's what the defendant told him to."
"There is just no way -- no way -- that Cohen wouldn't have told Mr. Trump about Daniels during that phone call. Why wouldn't he have?" Steingless said.
"Is this timing just all a coincidence, every single one of these things? Mr. Trump was being kept abreast of every development."
"Michael Cohen is not some rogue actor here," Steinglass said. "He is acting at the direction of the defendant."
May 28, 2024, 7:14 PM EDT
Judge tells state to wrap it by the top of the hour
After the parties returned to the courtroom following the final break, Judge Merchan told prosecutor Josh Steinglass he needs to wrap up his summation by 8 p.m.
"You've been going for four hours now, and the jury has been clear they need to go by 8 o'clock," the judge said.
"Thanks for sticking with me," Steinglass told the jury before diving back into his closing argument.
May 28, 2024, 6:57 PM EDT
Trump's tweets were a message not to cooperate, state says
After Michael Cohen implicated Trump in the hush money scheme in August 2018, Trump was "furious," prosecutor Josh Steinglass told the jury.
"His fixer had done the unthinkable, and Trump immediately went on the attack -- an attack that continues to this day," he said.
Steinglass showed a tweet Trump posted the following day: "If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you don't retain the services of Michael Cohen!"
"This is the day after he pled guilty," Steinglass said.
Steinglass argued that Trump's tweets after Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 were warning messages to other potential witnesses who could cooperate against him.
Defense lawyer Todd Blanche sits with former President Donald Trump as prosecutor Joshua Steinglass presents closing arguments during Trump's criminal trial in Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. May 28, 2024, in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
"These tweets were not only designed to punish Cohen," Steinglass said. "Cooperate or you will face the wrath of Donald Trump," was the message they conveyed.
Steinglass described a "vexatious and punitive lawsuit" Trump filed against Michael Cohen and a defamation suit against Stormy Daniels as evidence of his punitive means against people who epoks out against him.
After a series of sustained objections regarding Trump's tweets and their alleged impact on Cohen's safety, Judge Merchan smiled and told the jury, "This might be a good time to take our last recess of the day."
