Trump attorney Todd Blanche wrapped up his closing arguments Tuesday in Alvin Bragg’s prosecution of former President Donald Trump over alleged falsification of business expenses, telling the jury they shouldn’t believe a word that came out of star witness Michael Cohen’s mouth. “He lied to you repeatedly…he is biased and motivated…” he told the court.
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He lied to just about everyone, the defense attorney argued:
Blanche said the kind of witness you want is one to tell truth. “Michael Cohen is the GLOAT he is the greatest liar of all time…his words cannot be trusted…all those lies put them to the side for just a moment, that is enough to walk away….”
He said Cohen lied to both Houses of Congress, federal judges, state judges, family.
Many of the people Cohen had critical conversations with didn’t even testify in the case, because it would’ve destroyed the entire case against Trump given the fact that none of them would’ve verified Cohens testimony. What are the odds we get one juror who will do what’s right? Cohen can’t be trusted!
Blanche detailed many of the lies that Cohen tried to sell to the jurors:
Blanche is going through times Blanche says Cohen has lied to this jury. One example is the number of times he says he talked to Robert Costello. Cohen said it was about 10. But then then later, phone records were introduced that showed it was dozens and dozens of calls. Now, he’s reminding jury about Cohen’s call to Trump’s body guard, Keith Schiller.
During the trial, Blanche’s cross examination of Cohen about THE call to Schiller and whether it was about finalizing payment to Stormy Daniels for NDA. Blanche used texts to suggest it was about harassing phone calls from a 14-year-old. During that cross, Blanche’s voice grew louder, he was spoke more quickly.
Now, again, he’s speaking in similar fashion. Faster, louder. To punctuate the issue. Blanche also is acknowledging why the inconsistency about the call matters. “That is perjury,” says Blanche. “Is that the biggest lie in the world? Maybe not.”
Blanche says. This goes to the heart of whether the alleged lie on the call matters. Blanche says it shows Cohen does not take the oath of the truth seriously.
Blanche points out: He lied to his family. He lied to his wife. He lied to his banker.
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Things grew heated, however, when Blanche told the jury that they shouldn’t send Trump to prison based on the testimony of a liar. Judge Juan Merchan—who’s shown himself repeatedly to be biased against the former president—went nuclear over the apparent violation.
“That was outrageous, Mr. Blanche. Someone who’s been a prosecutor for as long as you have, someone who’s been an attorney as long as you have knows that is highly inappropriate,” Merchan told Blanche Tuesday, after the defense team wrapped up closing arguments, according to reports.
Jurors in criminal cases are typically instructed not to consider potential punishment for defendants when weighing a case.
Following Blanche’s comments, Merchan granted the prosecution team’s request for “curative instruction,” which will “cure” Blanche’s statement to the jury.
The prosecution will get their turn Tuesday afternoon and indicated they needed four to four and a half hours for their closing arguments.
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