Donald Trump’s lawyers did not call him to testify to defend himself in the lawsuit over payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels

The defense rested its case in Donald Trump’s secret money trial Tuesday morning without the former president testifying, bringing the proceedings one step closer to closing arguments.

The former president left the courtroom where his criminal trial was taking place without speaking to reporters. He ignored questions about why he would not testify in the hush money case.

“Your Majesty, the defense remains.”Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanch told the judge.

After more than four weeks of testimony, jurors were sent home and Judge Juan M. Merchan said they would not be needed in court until closing arguments the following Tuesday. Marchan suggested that the court session could be extended later in the day to accommodate briefs from both the defense and prosecution. Merchan told jurors he expected his instructions to take about an hour.

Merchan said that typically summaries would be prepared shortly after the defense settles its case, but he expected summaries in this case would take at least a day and, given the impending Memorial Day holiday. , “There is no way to do everything that is necessary.” To be done” before that.

Marchen said, “I’ll see you in a week.”

The jury may begin deliberations next week To determine whether Trump is guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

Prosecutors have accused Trump of planning to bury negative and often salacious stories that could have harmed his 2016 presidential campaign and then falsifying internal trading records to cover up secret payments tied to the alleged scheme. is charged. He has denied the allegations.

Prosecutors rested their case on Monday after concluding testimony from key witness Michael Cohen. Cohen spent almost four full days on the witness stand, placing the former president at the center of the alleged conspiracy, The defense called only two witnesses following the conclusion of Cohen’s testimony: Paralegal Daniel Sitko and attorney Robert Costello.

The trial is in its twentieth day.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges.

The case is the first criminal trial of a former US president and the first of four impeachments against Trump to reach a jury.

A group of Republican state leaders, lawmakers, state attorneys general and aides to the former president, including his son Donald Trump Jr., held a news conference near the Manhattan Courthouse on Tuesday morning.

“We are here because we are friends of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and when a friend has a problem, his friends support him”Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said. “If they can go after the former president of the United States, who has the ability and the financial resources to defend himself, what will happen to the average American?”

U.S. Representative Troy Nehls of Texas wore a tie bearing images of Trump embracing the American flag.

“They don’t want it on the ballot.”Nehls said before comparing Trump’s ability to draw a crowd to that of the Pope. “This is five weeks in court where you must reach out to the American people and tell them what you want to do for this country.”

After the press conference, Donald Trump Jr. was asked why his father did not testify.

“There would be no reason or justification for doing so,” he said. “Everyone thinks it’s a farce.”

(With information from AP)