Trump appears unlikely to testify as defense indicates they could rest case Monday
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Donald Trump appears in Manhattan Criminal Court on May 16. Photo: Victor J. Blue/Pool/Getty Images
Former President Trump appears unlikely to testify in his ongoing New York criminal trial after floating the possibility for days.
Why it matters: Trump's team indicated Monday that they are poised to soon rest their case in Trump's hush money trial, saying, "There's a likelihood that we will rest" the case on Monday.
- Trump attorney Todd Blanche said that the defense has one witness prepared to testify and "another short witness," per ABC News.
The big picture: Trump, who has pushed his attorneys to be more aggressive during trial, had said from the outset that he would "probably" testify in his own defense.
- But legal experts said that testifying could open him up to a potentially brutal cross examination that could undermine his credibility.
- Trump has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels over an alleged sexual encounter. He has denied wrongdoing.
Zoom in: During the trial, Trump has repeatedly falsely claimed that a gag order that prevents him from commenting on witnesses and jurors also prevents him from testifying.
- "Well, I'm not allowed to testify. I'm under a gag order, I guess. I can't testify," Trump told pool reporters on May 2.
- Judge Juan Merchan made clear that the gag order in no way prevents Trump from taking the stand.
- As recently as May 16, Blanche said no decision had been made as to whether Trump would take the stand, according to CNN.
Catch up quick: Over several days of testimony, Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen recounted how Trump approved of a plan to pay Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about an alleged encounter with Trump and about the plan to reimburse Cohen for fronting the payment.
- During cross-examination, the defense sought to undermine Cohen's credibility by painting him as disobedient and obsessed with Trump.
State of play: Trump has been accompanied by a revolving door of allies throughout the five weeks of trial.
- His lawyers have filed a deluge of legal requests during the course of the proceedings that, while unsuccessful, were intended to keep Trump happy and sway public opinion.
- Merchan shot down two mistrial motions by Trump's team and even threatened Trump with jail time for violating the gag order in the case.
Go deeper: Trump's N.Y. criminal trial: Who has testified and who hasn't
