Prosecution shows clear sign of Trump not guilty verdict: Avenatti

Former lawyer for Stormy Daniels, Michael Avenatti, criticizes prosecution's lengthy closing arguments in Donald Trump's trial, pushing for not guilty verdict.

Former lawyer for Stormy Daniels, Michael Avenatti, recently took to social media to share his thoughts on the ongoing closing arguments in the trial of former President Donald Trump. Avenatti expressed his belief that the prosecution team's decision to present a lengthy four-hour closing argument is a clear indication of the case's lack of merit and the existence of significant reasonable doubt. He strongly asserted that this fact alone should compel a not guilty verdict.

As the trial unfolds in New York, with Trump facing allegations of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign, Newsweek's senior reporter Katherine Fung provides real-time updates from inside the courtroom. Trump, who denies any sexual relations with Daniels, has pleaded not guilty to all 34 felony counts brought against him by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

In response to the prosecution's extended closing argument, Trump himself took to his social media platform, Truth Social, during a court break to express his frustration, labeling the proceedings as "FILIBUSTER!" and "BORING!" Trump's campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, condemned the trial as a politically motivated attack orchestrated by the Democratic Party, accusing them of weaponizing the justice system for their own gain.

Legal analyst Barbara McQuade weighed in on the length of the closing arguments, cautioning against the risk of losing the jury's attention with excessively long presentations. She emphasized the importance of conciseness to help the jury see the bigger picture and avoid getting lost in the details.

During the prosecution's closing argument, Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass highlighted what he referred to as the "smoking gun" evidence against Trump, while the defense team, led by lawyer Todd Blanche, presented 10 compelling reasons for the jury to have reasonable doubt and deliver a not guilty verdict. The defense's closing argument concluded around 12:50 p.m.

As the trial continues, Newsweek has reached out to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office for further comment on the proceedings. The case remains a focal point of national attention, with both sides presenting their arguments in a high-stakes legal battle that will ultimately determine the fate of the former president.