WORLD NEWS: TRUMP EYES WITNESS STAND AS TRIAL ENTERS CLOSING STAGE

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The door is still open for the former president to testify as Donald Trump’s trial on allegations of concealing hush money payments to a porn star moves into its closing phases on Monday.

According to the majority of analysts, there is a very slim chance that he will testify in his historic criminal trial—the first of any former US president—because doing so would subject him to needless legal risk and prosecutors’ forensic cross-examination.

However, Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, brought up the possibility that his client might testify on Thursday, telling the judge, “That’s another decision we need to consider.”

The defence team will finish questioning Michael Cohen, the prosecution’s star witness, before Trump testifies.

Trump’s former personal attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen, who later turned torturer, described how he kept Trump apprised of the $130,000 Stormy Daniels had allegedly been paid to keep quiet about an alleged affair prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Trump’s attorneys have been questioning Cohen for several days with the goal of portraying him as a habitual liar and convicted felon, bringing up his time in jail for tax evasion and lying to Congress.

Those arguments, among other grievances, have also been echoed outside the courthouse by an expanded entourage of Republican lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, who have shown up to publicly back their party’s leader.

Cohen has said repeatedly he takes “responsibility” for his actions and has faced the consequences. Prior to the trial, including in his books, he had done little to hide his contempt for his former boss.

Blanche has striven to ruffle Cohen, who has a reputation for a temper that could hurt him on the stand, but the witness has stayed largely composed and on topic.

His story has generally lined up with Daniels and David Pecker, the tabloid boss who said he worked with Trump and Cohen to suppress negative coverage during the Republican’s 2016 White House run.

Trump meanwhile has complained his election campaign for another White House term is being stymied by the weeks-long court proceedings, which he has to attend every day.

Branding the case as politicized, he has been supported by a coterie of leading Republicans who stand behind him as he gives remarks to reporters outside the courtroom.

The growing list includes several lawmakers in the running to be Trump’s vice presidential pick, such as Ohio Senator JD Vance and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.

Trump on Thursday again raged against “what a scam this whole thing is.”

“I’ve been sitting here for almost four weeks. And we still have a long way to go,” he said.

Trump, who appeared alert Thursday after spending some time over recent days with his eyes closed, denies he ever had sex with Daniels.

There was no hearing on Friday as Trump had been given the day off to attend his son Barron’s high school graduation in Florida.

After the prosecution rests, the defense can present a case, with an election campaign finance expert the only confirmed defense witness for now.

But the prosecution has voiced opposition, saying that only the judge should explain how the law applies.

Trump famously considers himself his own best advocate — but legal analysts believe he could be a liability on the stand.

When the jury begins deliberating, the often salacious testimony will likely linger front-of-mind — but they will also have reams of documents to consider.

The charges hinge on financial records, and whether falsifying them was done with intent to sway the 2016 presidential vote.

AFP