Defense rests without Trump taking witness stand in New York hush money trial

NEW YORK (CNN) – On Tuesday, the defense rested its case in former President Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial in New York.

The defense only called two witnesses, and the former president did not end up testifying.

The defense’s case lasted just over two hours compared to weeks for the prosecution.

Prosecutors rested their case Monday after calling 20 witnesses, including their star witness, Michael Cohen.

Tuesday’s court proceedings ended with the judge meeting with both sides to work out instructions to the jury.

Closing arguments in the case are expected to take place next Tuesday.

Trump is charged with falsifying business records to hide a payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

The payment was to keep Daniels quiet about an affair she said she had with Trump years earlier. Trump denied the affair and all other wrongdoing.