During the trial, Trump attorney Todd Blanche presented the jury with Office of Government Ethics forms from 2017 that contained a note regarding payments made to Michael Cohen from a revocable trust. Blanche highlighted the fact that President Trump had disclosed these payments to the IRS, mentioned them on Twitter, and included them in his Office of Government Ethics forms.
Blanche questioned the notion of any intent to defraud on the part of President Trump, pointing out the transparency with which the payments were documented and reported. By emphasizing that the payments were disclosed through official channels such as tax filings and ethics forms, Blanche sought to challenge the idea that there was any deliberate attempt to deceive.
The presentation of these documents aimed to demonstrate that President Trump had not concealed the payments to Cohen but had instead made them known through various official avenues. Blanche's argument centered on the premise that the public acknowledgment of these transactions contradicted any allegations of fraudulent behavior.
As the trial continues, the defense team is working to build a case that refutes the accusations of fraud against President Trump. By leveraging documentation and public statements made by Trump himself, the defense seeks to cast doubt on the prosecution's claims and establish a narrative of transparency and compliance.
