Attorney General Will Sharf, a Trump attorney and Republican candidate for Missouri, has weighed in on the ongoing hush money trial involving Michael Cohen. Sharf clarified that he is not representing Mr. Trump in this trial.
Sharf expressed his belief that the prosecution has not met its evidentiary burden on crucial elements of the charged offenses, indicating that he sees the case as open and shut for a directed verdict. He suggested that the defense may not even need to present its case if a fair judge were to assess the evidence.
Regarding potential witnesses, Sharf mentioned Bob Costello, Michael Cohen's former attorney, as a compelling witness due to his public statements that could undermine Cohen's credibility. He also discussed the possibility of calling Keith Schiller to testify about a specific phone call from 2016.
Sharf praised Todd Blanche's cross-examination skills, particularly highlighting a moment where Cohen was caught in a lie regarding the October 2016 phone call. He emphasized that such instances could significantly impact a witness's credibility in front of the jury.
Overall, Sharf's insights suggest a strategic approach to the trial, focusing on undermining the prosecution's case and potentially seeking a directed verdict based on the perceived weakness of the evidence presented so far.