As DA Aims High, Trump Defense Gets 'Down And Dirty'

As DA Aims High, Trump Defense Gets 'Down And Dirty'

April 22, 2024, Law360

Arlo Devlin-Brown’s commentary was included in a Law360 article covering the criminal hush-money trial of former President Donald Trump and the Trump defense team’s use of their opening statement to target Trump’s former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen. Arlo examines this move and what it could say about the defense team’s approach to the trial.

While Cohen is a key witness for the prosecution, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office pointed out that "much of its evidence comes from sources other than Cohen," Arlo said. He added that “they are previewing for the jury that he is a flawed witness and trying to take some wind out of the defense's sails.”

Arlo further commented on the defense’s arguments about Trump’s actions as a "battle the defense needs to fight here. The moral outrage built into the prosecution's case involves a fairly idealistic view of how campaigns should be conducted," he said. Arlo pointed out that the defense “wants to convey that the real world of democracy has always been a little down and dirty, and paying to kill unfavorable stories just isn't the sort of thing that should shock the conscience."