NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump attended his trial Monday with a large entourage that included lawyer Alan Dershowitz, former New York Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik and Democrat-turned-Republican Vernon Jones, a former state representative from Georgia and outspoken champion of the former president.
Former intelligence official Kash Patel attended along with four Republican House members: Reps. Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Eric Burlison of Missouri, Mary Miller of Illinois and Keith Self of Texas.
Mr. Dershowitz’s presence is notable. He is one of the most famous lawyers in America and represented Mr. Trump during his first impeachment trial.
He has worked with celebrities and public figures, serving on the defense team for Harvey Weinstein and negotiating a non-prosecution agreement for Jeffrey Epstein, a financier and sex offender who killed himself in prison in 2019.
The guests on Monday will see Mr. Trump’s lawyers finish their cross-examination of Michael Cohen, the prosecution’s star witness in the case.
As Mr. Trump’s lawyer-turned-accuser, Mr. Cohen is critical because he paid porn star Stormy Daniels near the 2016 election and then sought reimbursement through a series of checks from Mr. Trump.
Prosecutors allege the reimbursement scheme was illegal, though defense lawyers say Mr. Trump was busy running the country in 2017 and thought he was approving legal expenses.
“You have a lawyer, you pay him a legal expense,” Mr. Trump said in the courthouse hallway on Monday.
The defense wounded Mr. Cohen’s credibility last week with dramatic testimony that poked holes in whether Mr. Cohen addressed the payments in a pivotal phone call with Mr. Trump.
State Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan said he expects testimony to wrap up by the end of the week, with closing arguments and jury instructions on the Tuesday after Memorial Day. The judge had wanted to hold closing arguments as soon as this Tuesday, but it wasn’t feasible and he didn’t want to break up the final components of the trial, given the long weekend.
“Unfortunately, the calendar is what it is,” Judge Merchan said.
Showing up at Mr. Trump’s trial has become a favored way for GOP allies to show loyalty to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee.
It is also a central stage in this year’s veepstakes, with possible Trump running mates such as Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy sitting in the front rows of the courtroom.
Senate Republicans and House GOP allies have attended court, including outspoken members such as Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Lauren Boebert of Colorado.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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