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The criminal case against Donald Trump alleging falsified business records related to hush money payments is one step closer to being over.
The prosecution and defense have rested after weeks of witnesses and testimony. Here's what's next and what Trump said Tuesday.
What Happened: Former federal prosecutor Robert Costello was back on the witness stand Tuesday. Costello was one of only two witnesses called by the defense in the trial before resting Tuesday.
During cross-examination, prosecutor Susan Hoffinger shared emails from Costello to former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen and to his law partner Jeff Citron that were entered into evidence, as reported by NBC News.
"What should I say to this a–hole? He is playing with the most powerful man on the planet," said an email from Costello to Citron that was read in court. Costello agreed the email speaks for itself.
An email from Costello to Cohen stating that if he believes he wasn't being supported by Trump, he should his opinion known opinion known was also shared.
Emails between Citron and Costello also showed their goal was to get "Cohen on the right page" and not let him know they were following instructions from Trump or Rudy Giuliani.
The defense rested after Costello finished on the stand, choosing not to call Trump as a witness. Trump said ahead of the trial that he was prepared to testify. Many legal experts and Trump allies thought the former president could do himself more harm than good on the stand.
While the defense included only two witnesses in its portion of the case, the prosecution called 20 witnesses to the stand. Among the key witnesses in the trial for the prosecution were Cohen and adult actress Stormy Daniels.
Related Link: Trump Hush Money Trial Has 12 Jurors: Here Are The 7 Men, 5 Women To Decide Former President’s Fate
What's Next: With both parties resting, the trial will now head to closing arguments before 12 jury members are tasked with deciding a verdict in the multiweek trial.
Due to the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the jury was excused for the week and will return on Tuesday, marking the seventh week of the trial.
Judge Juan Merchan said that closing arguments could take some time and that jury instructions will also take at least one hour.
Merchan said the case could be called Wednesday next week, which is typically an off day for the trial. The judge said that Tuesday could also be a late night to get as much of the trial completed as possible.
Trump entered a plea of not guilty ahead of the trial. The former president faces 34 felony counts in connection with falsified business records. The maximum penalty is four years in prison for each charge. If Trump is found guilty, Merchan could have discretion over sentencing Trump to probation and fines or choose to place him in prison. The judge could also decide if Trump is to serve the sentences concurrently or one after another.
A prison sentence would not rule out Trump’s White House run, as the Constitution lays out only three requirements to run for president and Trump would still meet all three.
As a frontrunner in the 2024 presidential race, Trump's potential jail time could be postponed if he is elected as president of the United States.
Trump, Trump. Jr React: Donald Trump Jr. attended the trial for the first time on Tuesday and shared his take on the case with media outside the courtroom.
"If this was going on right now, in a third-world banana republic, there would be people screaming about it. You people, the media, would be outraged. Instead, because I presume you're fine with whatever the results are, as long as it's against Donald Trump, your silence is deafening and it's disgusting," Trump Jr. said.
Trump Jr. was asked by a reporter why his father didn't testify in the case.
"How do you justify this insanity? Look at the clowns that they put on there. You don't subject yourself to that nonsense. You're going in a kangaroo court. There's nothing more, nothing less. There'd be absolutely no reason, no justification to do that whatsoever," Kennedy Jr. said as reported by CBS.
Ahead of the trial Tuesday, Trump again lashed out at the case against him.
"They have no case. There's no crime," Trump said.
Trump said that every legal expert has said there was no crime committed and he hopes Merchan does the right thing and terminates the trial.
"It's a kangaroo court."
Trump said that any other judge would've thrown out the case.
"We've won the case by any standard."
Stock To Watch: Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group (NASDAQ:DJT) could be volatile next week as the trial turns to the jury and a verdict is reached.
The stock has seen several large moves related to charges against Trump and the beginning and ending of trials dating back to when the company was still completing the SPAC merger process with Digital World Acquisition Corporation.
Shares of Trump Media fell Tuesday after the company reported first-quarter revenue of $770,500 and a loss of $3.61 per share after market close Monday.
Shares of DJT were trading at $44.10, down 8.85%, on Tuesday, versus a 52-week trading range of $9.95 to $64.83.
Photo via Shutterstock.
Posted In: DJT
