Donald Trump will not testify as ‘hush money’ trial nears conclusion

Former US President Donald Trump’s defence in the Manhattan “hush money” case took a surprising turn as his legal team rested without him taking the stand. This decision came after weeks of testimony from prosecutors, including key witnesses like Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen.

The trial, which has captured the nation’s attention, centers around allegations that Trump paid off Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged sexual encounter. Despite Trump’s previous claims that he would testify to clear his name, his lawyers called only two witnesses before resting their case.

One of the witnesses, Robert Costello, a former legal adviser to Cohen and a Trump ally, testified that Cohen acted on his own in making the payments to Daniels and that Trump was unaware of them. This testimony directly challenges the prosecution’s claim that Cohen was acting on behalf of Trump’s 2016 election campaign.

As the trial heads into its final stages, closing arguments are set to begin next week, followed by jury deliberations. Trump, who faces 34 charges of falsifying business records, has maintained his innocence and denounced the trial as a politically motivated witch hunt.

Despite the intense scrutiny and legal battles, Trump has remained defiant, hinting that he may defy a court-imposed gag order to speak out. His about-turn on testifying marks a departure from his recent appearances in other civil trials where he faced judgments against him.

As the trial unfolds, the nation waits to see how it will impact Trump’s political future and whether he will emerge victorious once again.