Former President Trump's defense team has concluded its presentation of evidence in the NY v. Trump trial, but not without a hiccup. A key witness, an election law expert, was barred from testifying by the presiding judge, leading to a truncated defense and dismissal of the jury before closing arguments.
Former President Trump's defense team faced a setback in the NY v. Trump trial on Tuesday as a crucial witness was prevented from testifying by Judge Juan Merchan. Former Federal Election Commission (FEC) Commissioner Bradley Smith was expected to shed light on prosecutors' allegations that Trump falsified business records to cover up an election violation. However, Judge Merchan restricted Smith's testimony, limiting him to only discussing basic definitions surrounding election law.
Despite expressing his belief that the jury needed to understand the complex nature of campaign finance law, Smith's more detailed testimony was deemed off-limits. Smith's absence as a defense witness is considered a significant blow to Trump's case, as he has been hailed as an expert in his field.
In a social media post, Smith expressed his disappointment, stating that the prosecution's star witness, Michael Cohen, was allowed to discuss the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) at length, while he was prohibited from providing a broader perspective. Smith had intended to clarify the nuances of the law and explain how it has been interpreted in ways that may not be apparent from a surface reading.
The decision to limit Smith's testimony raises questions about the prosecution's strategy. The case revolves around Trump's payments to former porn actress Stormy Daniels, which prosecutors allege were campaign expenditures that should have been publicly reported. However, both the Justice Department and the FEC declined to pursue charges in the matter.
Smith argued in an opinion piece published by The Federalist that the prosecution's theory lacks merit, as the payments to Daniels were not campaign expenses. He emphasized that candidates often engage in actions that could be interpreted as influencing an election, but that does not automatically make them campaign expenditures.
The defense team rested its case on Tuesday, and the jury was dismissed until after Memorial Day. Closing arguments are scheduled to commence on Tuesday following the holiday. The outcome of the trial remains uncertain, but the absence of Smith's testimony will likely make the prosecution's task more challenging.
