The case against former President Donald Trump is having problems. Here are the key points:
- A witness for the prosecution did not give powerful testimony
- Trump’s defence team pointed out issues with the witness’s memory
- Legal experts say this case may be “collapsing under its weight.”
Do the prosecutors have enough evidence to make their case? Let’s take a closer look.
Star Witness Struggles on the Stand
The prosecution’s star witness was David Pecker, former publisher of the National Enquirer tabloid magazine. Pecker testified about payments made to two women by Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer. The payments were meant to stop the women from sharing stories that could hurt Trump’s chances in the 2016 presidential election.
On cross-examination by Trump’s lawyers, Pecker had trouble remembering specific dates and details from meetings years ago. The defence made Pecker question his memory of events.
Case Looking Weak?
Jonathan Turley, a law professor, said if this is the most vigorous evidence prosecutors have, “this is particularly good” for Trump’s side. Turley argued that the payments to the women may have been unethical but were not necessarily illegal.
George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley commented: “This case is collapsing under its own weight.”
Former federal prosecutor Katie Phang agreed, saying Pecker’s testimony “did nothing to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.” She said his assumptions about Trump’s motivations were “a far cry” from proof Trump broke campaign finance laws.
To Testify or Not?
Given how poorly Pecker’s testimony went, some legal experts are now questioning whether Trump should take the risky move of testifying in his defence.
Turley argued that with the prosecution case so weak, Trump’s testifying could give them “an opportunity that they would not otherwise have.” He said Trump should avoid the stand.
However, Phang noted that putting Trump on the stand also risks bringing up his past controversial statements and actions from other civil cases, which could “attack his credibility” further.
What’s Next?
With the case looking increasingly shaky based on the current evidence, where will prosecutors go from here? The defence will likely continue poking holes in the witnesses’ testimonies.
Trump could still take the stand, but most experts warn that the risks likely outweigh any potential benefits at this stage. The former president has yet to indicate whether he will testify.
In the coming days, it will be crucial for both sides to formulate their strategies as this high-profile trial continues to play out. Trump’s legal team seems cautiously optimistic, while prosecutors may need to re-evaluate the strength of their case moving forward.
In the end, will the evidence prove strong enough for a conviction, or will this case indeed crumble from its shortcomings? Only time will tell, but based on the opening arguments, the waters are looking quite choppy for the prosecution. Stay tuned as this historic legal battle over the 2016 election allegations continues.
