Trump's Defense Claims Extortion Scheme in Trial Closing Arguments: What Really Happened with Stormy Daniels?

In the closing days of the 2016 election, there was a non-disclosure agreement that allegedly silenced porn star Stormy Daniels from revealing details of a supposed sexual affair with Donald Trump. It was revealed that Trump paid $35,000 a month for a year in 2017 to the individual who facilitated the agreement.

Lead defense lawyer Todd Blanche argued that the paperwork only demonstrated that Trump was a victim of an extortion scheme and that he later paid a lawyer to perform his duties as the personal attorney to the President of the United States.

According to Blanche, the defense strategy aimed to focus solely on the core evidence in the case, which includes 11 invoices from Trump's former confidant Michael Cohen, 11 checks issued to him, and 12 accounting book entries.

Prosecution's Case

By contrast, prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office built a narrative around the aforementioned paperwork, utilizing testimony from individuals including Stormy Daniels, Michael Cohen, and employees at the Trump Organization and White House. They alleged that Trump orchestrated the non-disclosure agreement, attempted to silence Daniels in a bid to salvage his presidential campaign, and gradually repaid Cohen for the hush money by disguising it as ongoing legal fees.

Challenging Cohen's Testimony

During his closing arguments, Blanche redirected the jury's attention to an email from May 2017 in which Cohen mentioned working on a matter related to Trump's charity. Additionally, Blanche pointed out discrepancies in Cohen's testimony regarding his involvement in legal matters concerning Trump.

Blanche questioned the credibility of Cohen, emphasizing his financial status and reputation, and whether he would have willingly taken on the role of top legal adviser to the President without compensation.