Prior to the guilty verdict in the Trump hush money trial on Thursday, defense attorney Randy Zelin told CNN that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg “fell way short” of proving Trump was guilty in the case. Despite this claim, Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts by the jury.
The case was based on allegations that former President Trump falsified business records to cover up hush money payments to Stormy Daniels regarding an alleged extramarital affair. However, Zelin claimed that there were many reasons for the jury to find reasonable doubt.
“They fell way short because let’s start with reasonable doubt,” Zelin said. “What is reasonable doubt? And it’s not simply a doubt based upon reason. Any time a human being needs to make an important decision in life, if you have enough information, for example, doctor says you need open heart surgery. Doc, go ahead and schedule. I don’t have a reasonable doubt. Conversely, if I say I appreciate it, but I need a second opinion, I need more information. That is having a reasonable doubt.”
Zelin further substantiated his claims, pointing to Michale Cohen, who was the star witness of the prosecution. “There is reasonable doubt all over this case,” he added. “Where is Keith Schiller, where is Allen Weisselberg? How did Michael Cohen get away with stealing $30,000? Hold a pity party for him, made $4 million on this, thought he‘d be chief of staff. He’s a fixer. If the plumber comes to my house to fix my leak, I could be home. That doesn’t mean I know how he‘s doing it and what it’s taking to be fixed. Stormy Daniels, let‘s hold a pity party for her.”
Cohen, who served as a former lawyer to Donald Trump, had his character examined during his testimony which drew into question his credibility. For example, Cohen admitted to stealing money from the Trump Organization, leading many to question his reliability as a witness.
“Why do we need to know whether or not the former president wore a condom or not?” Zelin said, which is an example of Daniels’ testimony. “It’s simply about, did the former president know that books, his records, false entries for legal fees, Michael Cohen was his lawyer, did he intend to cover up the election or to protect his family? It’s everywhere. Everywhere!”
Following his conviction in the trial, Trump addressed the verdict in post-court comments to the press. Trump state that the ultimate verdict with come on “November 5th” at the ballot box where Americans could decide for themselves. Trump said, “This was a disgrace. This was a great trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt as a great trial and disgrace. They wouldn’t give us a venue change.” Watch Zelin’s comments below:
I’m fighting for our country. I’m fighting for our Constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now. He continued, “This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent, and I think it’s just a disgrace. And we’ll keep fighting, or fight till the end. And we’ll win.”
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