Defense attorneys in New York v. Trump rested their case Tuesday without calling former President Trump to the stand. Judge Juan Merchan dismissed the jury until after Memorial Day rather than having potential days-long gaps between closing arguments and jury deliberations.
Defense attorneys in New York v. Trump rested their case Tuesday morning without calling former President Trump to the stand to testify. The prosecution rested its case Monday, and Trump defense attorneys called two witnesses — paralegal Daniel Sitko and a former legal adviser to Michael Cohen, Robert Costello — before resting its case.
Rather than have potential days-long gaps between closing arguments and jury deliberations, Judge Juan Merchan dismissed the jury until after Memorial Day.
Former President Trump said his defense team has already "won the case by any standard" in the NY v. Trump trial as he called on presiding Judge Juan Merchan to dismiss the case. And when he exited court Tuesday evening, Trump pushed the boundaries of the gag order that has already cost him $10,000 in fines.
"Look at the person. Why don't you look at the person that argued their case for almost the entire case? Look at the person. Where did he come from? Unbelievable. He came from Biden," he added.
Trump did not name the person he was speaking about. However, the lead prosecutor for the case, Mathew Colangelo, is a former Department of Justice official who took a job with the DA's office just months before the indictment of the former president.
The New York v. Trump trial is a civil case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleging that Trump and his family engaged in fraudulent and illegal practices related to the Trump Organization. The defense has denied the allegations.
Closing arguments are scheduled to begin on June 6. The jury will then deliberate on the case. If Trump is found liable, he could face a variety of penalties, including financial damages and a ban on doing business in New York.
Trump's comments outside of court on Tuesday indicate that he is confident in his defense team. However, it is important to note that the jury has not yet deliberated on the case and the outcome is still uncertain.
The gag order in the New York v. Trump trial prohibits both parties from discussing the details of the case outside of court. However, Trump's comments on Tuesday appear to violate this order. It is unclear if Judge Merchan will take any further action against Trump for these comments.
The New York v. Trump trial is a significant legal battle that could have major implications for Trump's future political and business endeavors. The outcome of the trial will also have a broader impact on the ability of states to hold former presidents accountable for their actions.
The New York v. Trump trial is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what the outcome will be. However, the trial has already attracted significant attention and could have lasting implications for Trump and the American political system.
