A jury must decide whether the former president and presumptive Republican candidate for the November election is guilty beyond a doubt of falsifying business records.
Over the past six weeks, Mr. Trump, 77, has given days of testimony about paying hush money to former adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about allegations of sexual encounters before the 2016 election.
Prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorney's office alleged that Trump falsified 34 business records while reimbursing Cohen for $130,000 (£102,000) he paid and recording it as legal fees.
They also claimed he was motivated by the intent to illegally influence the 2016 race.
Over several hours Tuesday, President Trump's lawyer, Todd Blanche, argued passionately that the president never intended to falsify business records or interfere with the election.
He attacked the credibility of Cohen, whom he called “the human embodiment of reasonable doubt.”
Mr. Blanche reminded jurors that Mr. Cohen was imprisoned for lying under oath, admitted to stealing from a former employer and now lives with an “axe to claw” against Mr. Trump.
“He’s literally like the MVP of liars,” he said.
President Trump turned in his chair and watched his lawyer criticize the incident, often appearing to close his eyes.
But the burden of proof in this case is on the prosecution, who must convince the jury of Mr. Trump's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to secure a conviction.
Joshua Steinglass, lead prosecution lawyer, held closing arguments for nearly four hours, finally concluding at approximately 20:00 local time at the request of Judge Juan Merchan.
He said the core of the case against President Trump is about “conspiracy and cover-up.”
Over the course of five weeks, prosecutors called numerous witnesses to identify dozens of documents and records related to the hush money paid to Daniels and the repayment to Cohen.
Mr. Steinglass acknowledged problems with some of the witnesses, including Mr. Daniels' “enormous” testimony and the star witness' significant “baggage.”
“The defendant chose Michael Cohen. He became his fixer!” he pointed out. “We didn’t bring him to the witness shop.”
Mr. Steinglass said the jury should consider “whether you like Mr. Cohen and whether you want to do business with him,” but instead saw him as a “tour guide” for evidence that his actions benefited “one person and one person only.” He said it should be viewed as.
If jurors “ignore the sideshow,” they would convict Mr. Trump, he added.
Some legal experts say it will not be easy to convince jurors of the broader theory that Trump illegally influenced the 2016 election by falsifying business records with the intention of covering up another crime.
Others said it may have taken prosecutors too long to reach a final conclusion.
“Lawyers like to talk, but in cases like this, less is more.” Former federal prosecutor Nema Rahmani told the BBC.
A panel of 12 New York jurors will evaluate President Trump's legal fate and must unanimously agree on a verdict of guilty or not guilty. If a decision cannot be reached, the case goes to trial.
