Donald Trump's attorney Todd Blanche asks hush money trial jurors to use 'common sense' to pass verdict

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: As the hush money trial against Donald Trump is underway in a Manhattan courthouse, the former president's attorney Todd Blanche asked the jurors to pay attention to all of the testimony and use common sense.

"Use your common sense. We’re New Yorkers. It’s why we’re here," said Blanche, adding "we trust you" to decide on this high-profile case on the evidence.

"If you do that, there will be a very swift not guilty verdict," he added, according to CNN.

What is Donald Trump's hush money case about?

The hush money trial against Trump stems from allegations that he falsified his business records to conceal payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about their alleged affair before the 2016 presidential election.

In the opening statement during the trial on Monday, April 22, Blanche spoke about the witnesses in the case and said, “There’s nothing illegal about what you will hear happened among the National Enquirer, AMI, David Pecker and Donald Trump."

“It’s not a scheme, unless a scheme means something that doesn’t matter, that’s not illegal," he added.

Donald Trump's defense calls him 'innocent'

After prosecutor Matthew Colangelo remarked during the opening statement that the former president "orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt" the 2016 polls, the defense called Trump "innocent" and stated that the Manhattan district attorney's office “should never have brought this case.”

“He’s, in some ways, larger than life. But he’s also here in this courtroom, doing what any of us would do: defending himself,” said Blanche.

Donald Trump's defense questions witness Michael Cohen's credibility

Questioning the credibility of Michael Cohen, one of the prosecution's key witnesses and former attorney of Trump, Blanche scrutinized his past as he highlighted his criminal record and propensity for deception under oath.

The attorney accused Cohen of personal vendettas against the former president, claiming that his motives behind testifying against Trump came after he was not given a job in the administration.

Blanche argued that Cohen is being “obsessed with President Trump,” as “his entirely financial livelihood depends on President Trump’s destruction.”

“You cannot make a serious decision about President Trump relying on the words of Michael Cohen,” he added.

Internet reacts to Todd Blanche's arguments in opening statement

After Blanche urged jurors to use their common sense when assessing the hush money case, netizens reacted to the attorney's request.

"'We are New Yorkers' I thought the trial was not decided by a jury of #Trump's peers. Isn't it a witch hunt orchestrated by the deep state? Why did Todd Blanche ask them to use their common sense? Pff! The First Guy defense team is pathetic," a user wrote on X.

"Trump attorney Todd Blanche finished his opening argument by trying to appeal to the jury as New Yorkers. 'Listen, use your common sense. We’re New Yorkers, it is why we’re here.' Total nonsense," a netizen commented.

One user tweeted, "'Use your common sense' bingo card via Todd Blanche."

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