Hush Money Trial Latest: Defense Rests, Trump Doesn't Testify

Trump didn't answer a reporter's question about why he didn't take the stand

Donald Trump
Former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters outside his hush money trial in New York City. Steven Hirsch-Pool/Getty Images

The defense at Donald Trump's New York criminal trial rested its case Tuesday morning without calling the former president to the stand to testify.

Closing arguments are expected to be held next Tuesday after a break for the Memorial Day weekend. The jury was told they could start deliberations as soon as Wednesday.

Trump did not stop to speak to reporters after he left the courtroom and ignored a question about why he didn't testify, the Associated Press reported.

Trump's lawyers had asked the judge to throw out the hush money trial after prosecutors wrapped up their case on Monday.

Judge Juan M. Merchan appears to have rejeccted the idea without issuing a ruling.

Attorney Robert Costello returned to the stand as the final defense witness on Wednesday.

His time on the stand was contentious on Monday with the judge threatening to kick him out of court over his behavior.

Prosecutors had argued that he should not even have been allowed to testify.

A former federal prosecutor had offered to represent Michael Cohen after the FBI raided his offices. Their professional relationship splintered spectacularly.

On Monday, Michael Cohen admitted to stealing from the Trump Organization during cross-examination.

Cohen was paid $50,000 to reimburse him for tech services as part of his 2017 compensation.

However, Cohen testified Monday that he only paid the tech company $20,000 and kept the rest for himself.

Trump faces 34 felony charges related to his handling of hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. She claimed she had a sexual encounter with Trump. He denies having an affair.

Prosecutors say the Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen for a $130,000 payment made to former porn star Stormy Daniels.

They claim the payments were fraudulently logged as legal expenses.

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