It is unclear if Trump will testify at trial.

Donald Trump has remained silent in a New York courtroom as former employees and associates testify in his criminal trial. On Monday, the former president may have an opportunity to present his side of the story.

It is uncertain if Trump will choose to testify.

While he initially expressed his intention to testify before the trial, his lawyer Todd Blanche recently indicated uncertainty regarding Trump’s decision. Trump himself has not confirmed whether he will testify or not.

The first former president to face a criminal trial has pleaded not guilty to 34 charges related to falsifying business records to conceal a payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election. Trump denies the alleged 2006 encounter with Daniels that she threatened to make public.

Outside the courtroom, Trump has criticized the trial as a politically motivated attack on his bid to reclaim the presidency from Joe Biden. Inside the courtroom, witnesses have detailed efforts to suppress stories during a time when Trump faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.

Prosecutors expect to conclude their presentation on Monday, with testimony from Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen, who facilitated the payment to Daniels. Trump’s defense team will then have a chance to present their case.

If Trump chooses to testify, he will have the opportunity to challenge the case against him and dispute Daniels’ account. However, he would face cross-examination by prosecutors, risking further legal complications if found to have lied under oath.

While defendants in white-collar criminal cases often do not testify, high-profile figures like Trump, cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried, and Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes have taken the stand in the past. The trial, seen as the least significant of Trump’s legal challenges, is expected to be the only one to reach a verdict before the upcoming election.