Former President Trump’s lead defense attorney, Todd Blanche, addressed the absence of Melania Trump from the courtroom during Trump’s recent criminal trial on David Oscar Markus’s “For the Defense” podcast. Blanche clarified that Melania’s absence does not indicate a lack of love or support for her husband. He explained that their son was finishing school in Florida, and the topic of her attendance was never discussed with Trump.
“Their son was finishing school in Florida,” Todd Blanche told David Oscar Markus’s “For the Defense” podcast, which aired Sunday.
Melania Trump did not attend any sessions of the seven-week trial, although three of Trump’s children — Donald Trump Jr., Tiffany Trump, and Eric Trump — along with Eric’s wife, Lara Trump, were present on some days. Blanche emphasized that the lack of presence should not be misinterpreted as a lack of support.
Last week, Trump was convicted on all 34 counts related to covering up a hush money payment in his business records with the intent to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election. This marked the first criminal conviction of a former U.S. president, with sentencing scheduled for July 11.
In a recent interview, Trump mentioned the trial had been particularly hard on his wife due to the salacious nature of the testimony, accusing prosecutors of doing this intentionally. Blanche, during his interview with Markus, reiterated his intention to appeal the conviction.
The podcast revealed that Markus had suggested one of the most memorable lines in Blanche’s closing argument, where Blanche referred to the prosecution’s star witness, Michael Cohen, as the “GLOAT.” This line aimed to resonate with the jury by drawing comparisons to athletes like Michael Jordan and Tom Brady, branding Cohen as the “MVP of liars.” Blanche noted that the jury appeared to appreciate this personalized approach.
