The latest developments in Donald Trump’s ongoing hush-money trial in New York have captured significant attention as the prosecution nears the end of presenting its case.
Despite this, the prosecution continued to call witnesses on Friday, aiming to strengthen its argument that Trump, the former US president, deliberately falsified business documents to impact the 2016 election.
At the center of the trial are documents related to a payment made to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star who alleged an affair with Trump. Although Trump denies the allegations, his ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels $130,000 for her silence in 2016.
The prosecution contends that the payment was disguised as “legal expenses” to hide its true purpose, leading to 34 felony charges against Trump for falsifying business records.
Trump’s defense team maintains his innocence, claiming his actions were to protect his family from embarrassment and has even requested a mistrial.
Key highlights from the 15th day of the trial include the testimony of Madeleine Westerhout, a former White House aide, shedding light on Trump’s handling of affairs during his presidency.
Trump aide returns to the witness stand
Westerhout’s testimony provided insight into Trump’s administrative practices, including signing checks received from New York, a detail that came under scrutiny during cross-examination.
For more details on the trial’s latest developments, visit www.aljazeera.com for a comprehensive overview.