Former federal prosecutor-turned-defense lawyer Robert Costello's testimony may have backfired on former President Donald Trump's team as the prosecution rested its case on Tuesday, a legal expert told Salon.
Judge Juan Merchan sent the jury home for the week mid-day Tuesday. Jurors are set to return next Tuesday for closing arguments, with deliberations set for Wednesday, May 29.
Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, with prosecutors saying that audio recordings, internal business records and witness testimony prove he was scheming to kill damaging stories about alleged extramarital sex ahead of his 2016 campaign and disguising reimbursements to Cohen as legal fees — all in violation of state and federal election law and state tax law. Each count carries up to four years in prison, which Trump would likely serve concurrently if convicted.
Trump denies the charges, as well as the alleged sexual encounters.
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Trump's defense team called just two witnesses — Costello, and a paralegal, with Trump opting not to speak in his defense.
On Tuesday, the prosecution continued their cross-examination of Costello, who has worked as Rudy Giuliani's lawyer.
Costello on Monday lambasted the credibility of former Trump fixer Michael Cohen — and also received a reprimand from Merchan, who told him to stop rolling his eyes, saying "jeez" and side-eyeing the judge.
John Coffee, a law professor at Columbia Law School, said Costello "greatly antagonized" Merchan.
"I don't think he helped," Coffee said.
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked Costello at length........