A defense witness in Donald Trump's hush money case, Robert Costello, is set to return to the stand as the trial nears its conclusion. Trump's legal team is banking on Costello's testimony to challenge the credibility of key prosecution witness Michael Cohen, a former fixer turned adversary of Trump.
The trial took a dramatic turn when Judge Juan Merchan reprimanded Costello for his behavior in court, including making comments under his breath and rolling his eyes. The judge threatened to remove Costello from the stand if his conduct persisted.
The prosecution has accused Trump of falsifying business records to conceal payments made to Cohen as part of a scheme to suppress damaging stories during the 2016 campaign. The charges revolve around a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to prevent her from disclosing an alleged sexual encounter with Trump.
Trump has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, labeling the trial as an attempt to thwart his potential 2024 presidential bid. Following the prosecution's case, the defense argued that Trump's actions were aimed at protecting his family rather than his campaign.
Costello, a former federal prosecutor, has emerged as a pivotal figure in the trial due to his contentious relationship with Cohen. He testified that Cohen had repeatedly claimed Trump had no knowledge of the hush money payment to Daniels, contradicting Cohen's assertion that Trump had approved the transaction.
While the defense indicated they may call one more witness, they hinted that Trump is unlikely to testify in his defense. The trial is now approaching its conclusion, with closing arguments expected after Memorial Day.
