Have Prosecutors Made Their Case in the Trump Hush-Money Trial?

In a New York courtroom, former President Donald Trump has been a silent observer as state prosecutors endeavor to build the first-ever criminal case against a former US president. Over the course of nearly four weeks, attorneys from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office have marshaled a lineup of compelling witnesses and presented a trove of clandestinely recorded conversations and documents to bolster their case.

Their allegations revolve around assertions that Trump orchestrated a hush-money payment to an adult-film star in 2016, aiming to sidestep a potential sex scandal that could have derailed his presidential bid. Moreover, prosecutors contend that he greenlit an illegal reimbursement scheme to conceal the payment.

Trump, in response, refutes 34 counts of falsifying business records.

The prosecution's most recent witness, Michael Cohen, faces further cross-examination before Trump's legal team has the opportunity to mount a defense.

Legal analysts commend the prosecution for their methodical presentation of evidence. However, they caution that securing a conviction in this intricate felony case is far from certain, despite the solid testimony and evidence.

"The pieces are all there. But is it there beyond a reasonable doubt?" former Brooklyn prosecutor Julie Rendelman reflects. "I don't know."

"It only takes one juror," she adds.

The prosecution has meticulously laid out the narrative, beginning with the genesis of the $130,000 hush-money payment made by Cohen to adult-film star Stormy Daniels. David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, played a pivotal role in this saga. He recounted a series of meetings at Trump Tower where he, Cohen, and Trump devised a strategy to suppress negative stories about Trump's alleged sexual encounters as he pursued the presidency.

Former Manhattan prosecutor Lance Fletcher observes that Pecker's testimony carried weight due to his perceived impartiality and prior relationship with Trump.

Prosecutors further bolstered their case with testimony from other key figures, including former Trump aide Hope Hicks and Daniels' former attorney Keith Davidson, all of whom corroborated the prosecution's narrative.