Trump opts not to take witness stand in hush money case

Defence rests, clearing way for jurors to start deliberations in criminal case

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Former US president Donald Trump opted not to testify in his criminal hush money trial on May 21, bringing his defence to a quick conclusion and clearing the way for jurors to begin deliberations next week.

Trump had stoked speculation for weeks about whether he would take the stand to defend himself against charges of falsifying business records to cover up a hushmoney payment to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.

By testifying, he might have sought to personally convince a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates that his aim was to protect his family from embarrassment, not bury a story about an alleged sexual encounter damaging to his political prospects.

But criminal defendants typically do not testify in their own trials as it exposes them to probing questions from prosecutors.

He would have been at risk of perjury if he lied under oath.