Trump Lawyer Calls Key Witness 'MVP of Liars' as Jury Prepares to Deliberate

n a dramatic turn in Manhattan's criminal court, a lawyer for former President Donald Trump urged jurors to find him innocent, blasting a key witness as the "MVP of liars." Meanwhile, the prosecutor implored the panel to "focus on the facts" and "hold the defendant accountable."

“In the interest of justice, and in the name of the people of the state of New York, I ask you to find the defendant guilty,” prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told the jury at the end of his closing arguments. Wrapping up his four-hour-long summary, Steinglass emphasized that "there is no special law for this defendant," invoking Trump’s infamous 2016 comment about shooting someone on Fifth Avenue. The judge sustained an objection from Trump's lawyer, Todd Blanche, who protested the remark.

The jury will begin deliberations on Wednesday in this historic first criminal trial of a former president, who faces 34 counts of falsifying business records. Blanche focused his closing argument on discrediting Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer and key witness, calling him "the greatest liar of all time."

Steinglass countered by reminding the jury that Cohen, once Trump’s trusted attorney, is not on trial—Trump is. "We didn’t choose Michael Cohen. Mr. Trump chose Mr. Cohen for the same qualities his attorneys now urge you to reject," he said, highlighting the corroborative evidence presented.

Blanche argued that the payments to Cohen were for legal work, not hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels, as prosecutors claim. He insisted that Trump was too occupied with his presidential duties to scrutinize the payments. However, Steinglass pointed out that Trump had previously acknowledged the payments were reimbursements, indicating he knew the records were false.

The case hinges on whether Trump, Cohen, and National Enquirer publisher David Pecker engaged in a scheme to hide damaging information during the 2016 election. Blanche maintained that the prosecution failed to prove Trump's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, dismissing the trial as a politically motivated attack.

As the jury prepares to deliberate, the trial stands as a pivotal moment, with Trump facing the possibility of penalties ranging from fines to four years in prison. The outcome will not only impact Trump but also set a precedent for the accountability of public figures.

In a courtroom sketch, Donald Trump and his legal team observe Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy during Trump's arraignment inPhoto byElizabeth Williams/AP