Any of these witnesses at their word, look at the documents. And in fact, able only aid the Credibility Rehabilitation as someone like michael cohen, if its really in front of them not having to trust just him exactly about the defense, though theyre going to have some pretty strong arguments, at least in the opening to try to undermine whatever case they have. Yes. So the defense will open 2nd. Todd blanche, former federal Prosecutor Peter colleagues with alvin bragg. I worked at the Southern District Of New York with both of them, Todd Blanche is expected to give the opening for donald trump. The first thing that i expect him to say is the burden of proof, is theres thats on the other side of the courtroom. We defense dont have to prove a thing. They have to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the highest standard known to our hey thats important, especially because this will determine whether or not trump will actually testify or dispense want to put on any case bec
Regard. And again, you just have to attack attack, attack those, those witnesses and look what youve got to say is Michael Cohen should be a codefendant if you believe with the prosecutors just said Michael Cohen, shubi, codefendant, not a witness. He has so many reasons to lie. Sony seasons to pin this on someone else, to keep himself out of jail. Tell which was unable to do in the federal case i mean, Michael Cohen is a felon. He isnt admitted liar, just the prosecutions case, you think rise and fall with his credibility . I think it has a tremendous impact. Look, there is paperwork that corroborates the Peoples Evidence and thats obviously hurtful for the president. But my understanding is its not paperwork with donald trumps handwriting on it or his signature on it, except for a check. So the defense could merely be, hey, Michael Cole did all of this
Trump hush money trial. And im Jake Tapper in washington today, a Courtroom Collision filled with history shattering precedent, and a Stock Possibility that one of the two major candidates for president this fall will be a convicted criminal sometime soon the government and the defense will give two very different narratives about what happened been in that Closing Stretch of the 2016 campaign, prosecutors planning to present a mountain of evidence documents, and witnesses to corroborate it. All, alleging the Donald Trump as you near to plan to buy the silence and Stormy Daniels with whom he allegedly had a dalliance, and allegedly cover up what he did by Falsifying Business Records now, the defense plans, campaigns, and altogether different picture to argue that the Prosecutions Case is built on Puzzle Pieces that do not fit together and built around the Line Hi of a convicted perjurer, michael cohen. The former Trump Fixer who has sworn to exact revenge on his onetime boss today, we
Hush Money Payment he paid to stormy daniels, that those were not reimbursements. Those were actually just retainers for Michael Cohen, correct . Whats at issue in this case is Business Records is entries and President Trumps personal ledger that reflected payments to Michael Cohen as legal retainer payments. Its worth noting those entries were made by a midlevel Trump Organization Official in Trump Tower while President Trump was in the White House running the country, its also worth noting that Michael Cohen was President Trumps lawyer. And that therefore we believe these records were both accurate and not made by President Trump, and those are two fatal problems with the prosecutions case. So again we believe if the jury is able to dispassionately just view the facts and evidence in this case this is a winning case for us President Trump did nothing wrong how much of the Defense Strategy is based on undermining the credibility of Michael Cohen, who as weve
Stop at a Harlem Bodega last week that was celebrating graded by his gene. But then they were dealt a blow in North Carolina when he had a rally that was canceled because of whether and when you talk to these senior advisers, some of them insist that this is going to help donald trump in the long run that being in core people are going to see that this is unfair. But i did speak to one adviser who told me that thats just not entirely the case. They believe that they are in uncharted territory. They know that anything could happen at this time and they believe that he needs to get out there on the campaign trail. They are doing what they can do. They are making the most of him being in trial. But this advisers said they would really rather be focusing elsewhere, jake. All right. Kristen holmes, thanks so much. And i just want to point out for viewers on the left side of the television screen, youll be seeing live updates from our reporters inside the courthouse will be right here. There