Trump hush money trial: Trump found guilty on all counts in historic case
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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Trump guilty on all 34 counts
Jury to hear closing arguments
After five weeks of testimony, jurors in former President Trump's hush money case are scheduled to hear closing arguments today.
Prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorney's office and attorneys for Trump are both set to deliver closing statements.
Judge Juan Merchan is then expected to delivery jury instructions on Wednesday, after which jurors will begin deliberations.
Defense says Cohen lied about Trump wanting to repay in cash
Continuing with his attack on Michael Cohen's recording of the 2016 meeting with Trump, defense attorney Todd Blanche cast doubt on Cohen's contention that Trump was going to repay AMI for the Karen McDougal payment in cash -- meaning bills.
"Cash just means no financing," Blanche said. "It doesn't mean you are going into the closing with a duffel bag full of green."
According to Blanche, Cohen tried to mislead the jury by suggesting Trump wanted to pay in cash.
"That was Mr. Cohen lying to you, painting a picture that fits his narrative, not the truth," Blanche said.
"There's no scenario under which there has been any testimony at this trial that Mr. Trump was going to walk around with a duffel bag full of $150,000 in cash."
Addressing why the recording cut off, Blanche said when Trump says "check" it was the beginning of a new sentence -- not about writing a check -- before it cuts off.
"It's clearly talking about a beginning of a sentence that we will never know," Blanche said.