Trump lawyer demands hush money trial dismissal at end of chaotic day in court

Former President Donald Trump's lead attorney asked on Monday that New York Justice Juan Merchan dismiss the criminal hush money case against the former president by pointing the finger at former fixer Michael Cohen, reports from the courtroom show.

Todd Blanche's motion to dismiss was based on three main points linked to a lack of evidence and what he called Cohen's lack of credibility, according to Lawfare's Anna Bower.

"The is no way that the court should let this case go to the jury relying on Mr Cohen's testimony," Blanche said. "Without Mr. Cohen, there is no case."

Blanche first contended there was no evidence the business records in question were false, arguing Trump's attorney Michael Cohen did render legal services as the records say.

Secondly, Blanch argued there was no evidence of intent to defraud in the filings; and finally, that there was no evidence that the arrangement raised campaign finance law violation concerns, thus no evidence of a cover-up.

The prosecution's case included testimony from multiple witnesses with supporting documents they say prove Trump was embroiled in a scheme to falsify business records to hide hush money payments ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

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Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Merchan appeared skeptical of Blanche's argument as he echoed the attorney's words back to him, according to reporter Adam Klasfeld.

"Blanche also asks for a directed verdict because Michael Cohen's testimony isn't credible," Klasfeld reported. "Justice Merchan skeptically repeats that Blanche wants him to find Cohen's testimony not credible 'as a matter of law.'"

All of this comes after a dramatic day of testimony in which Trump's team called to the stand Robert Costello, a former legal adviser to Cohen, who proceeded to show such a breach of decorum that Merchan cleared the courtroom for a period of time before allowing the testimony to resume — a step that stunned observers.