Prosecution rests its case in Donald Trump's hush money trial

Donald Trump. Pic/AFP

Donald Trump's hush money trial entered its final stretch as the prosecution's star witness Michael Cohen returned to the stand Monday.

In his testimony last week, Cohen placed the former president directly at the center of the alleged scheme to stifle negative stories to fend off damage to his White House bid. Among other things, Cohen told jurors that Trump promised to reimburse him for the money he fronted and was constantly updated about efforts to silence women who alleged sexual encounters with him. Trump denies the women's claims.

Defense attorneys resumed cross-examination of Cohen with a series of questions about his business dealings and other activities in the lead-up to the payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels.

They further dug into Cohen's sources of income in the years since Trump originally took office, as well as income he has earned criticizing the former president. Prosecutors have said they will rest their case once Cohen's testimony concludes, though they could call rebuttal witnesses.

The defense said Monday it will call at least one witness, but it remains unclear whether Trump will testify. Merchan said earlier in the day that closing arguments could take place the Tuesday after Memorial Day. The trial is in its 19th day. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The case is the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president and the first of four prosecutions of Trump to reach a jury.

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