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What to know about the hush money trial
- Prosecutors finished delivering their closing statements in the trial shortly before 8 p.m. Former President Donald Trump's lawyers presented their arguments this morning.
- Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass, who spoke for more than four hours, argued that Trump falsified business records to cover up what was essentially an illegal campaign contribution meant to help him get elected in 2016.
- Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels to buy her silence about an alleged affair with Trump. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
- Court adjourned for the day at 8 p.m. and will resume at 10 a.m., when the judge will give instructions to the jury before it begins deliberations.
Judge lays out timeline for the rest of the week
Tomorrow's trial proceedings are expected to get underway at 10 a.m., instead of the regular 9:30 a.m., with Judge Juan Merchan saying he expects jury instructions to last about an hour.
After that, the case will be in the hands of the jury.
Merchan said tomorrow's proceedings will conclude at 4:30 p.m., but he left the door open for the rest of the week, noting that if proceedings are needed on Thursday and Friday, the timing will be determined by how deliberations are progressing.
Trump makes no comments after leaving courtroom
Trump did not make any comments as he left the Manhattan courtroom after the prosecution delivered closing arguments that went until just before 8 p.m.
Trump, who has often spoken outside the courtroom, instead raised his fist as he left.
Closing arguments are done; court to resume at 10 a.m. tomorrow
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass has finished his closing argument, which began shortly after 2 p.m.
Judge Juan Merchan told jurors they will start tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Merchan told jurors that jury instructions will take around an hour before deliberations begin. He said the plan is to go until 4:30 p.m. for the day.
Prosecutor gets fired up during end of closing argument
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass began accelerating and emphasizing his delivery to jurors during closing arguments with minutes to go before an 8 p.m. deadline.
Steinglass reiterated to the jurors that it is a crime to willfully create inaccurate tax forms and that Trump’s intent to defraud in this case is clear. He argued that why else would Stormy Daniels be paid in what he described as an elaborate scheme, instead of all at once.
Steinglass argued that that and other steps show Trump wanted the issue to be kept quiet until after the election.
“The name of the game was concealment,” he said.
Defense objects to prosecutor's remarks about Trump and Fifth Avenue
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass urged the jury to hold Trump accountable, suggesting by way of analogy that he can’t shoot someone on Fifth Avenue during rush hour and get away with it.
Trump's defense team objected to the comment, which Judge Juan Merchan sustained.
Mixed level of visible engagement among jurors at this late hour
At least one juror appears to be visibly engaged in prosecutor Joshua Steinglass’ presentation — offering an affirming smile.
Others, however, appear considerably less focused and can be seen twisting their hair and rubbing their faces.
The jury is approaching an 11-hour day at the courthouse.
Prosecutor talks about difference between reasonable doubt and certainty
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told the jury that it does not need to evaluate each piece of evidence alone and in a vacuum but as part of a whole that he argues proves Trump’s guilt.
“You will see that the people have proven this case beyond a reasonable doubt,” he said.
During his remarks, the defense objected. Judge Juan Merchan sustained the objection.
“I’ll instruct them on the law and the evidence,” Merchan said.
Prosecutor launches into rapid-fire recap of Trump’s involvement in Daniels and McDougal stories
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass is recapping all of the evidence intended to show Trump’s direct involvement in the settlements with Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels, beginning with an August 2015 Trump Tower meeting.
A screen the prosecution displayed during closing arguments read “Mr. Trump involved every step of the way” as Steinglass went through a timeline of events.
Joshua Steinglass passes 4-hour mark in his closing arguments
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass has passed the four-hour mark since he began giving the prosecution’s closing argument in Trump’s trial.
Steinglass began giving the prosecution’s closing arguments at around 2:07 p.m., but there have been several breaks since then.
Today's trial proceedings to continue until 8 p.m., judge says
After he returned to the bench, Judge Juan Merchan indicated to the attorneys that the court will push forward until 8 p.m. but will need to wrap up after that.
That would make an 11-hour day for the jury.
