New York, US, Mar 18 (EFE). – The judge presiding over the criminal case against former United States President Donald Trump (2017-2021) in New York will allow adult film star Stormy Daniels and Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to testify, according to a ruling issued Monday.
Judge Juan Merchan denied a motion by Trump’s defense to exclude the testimony of Daniels and Cohen, the key witnesses in the Manhattan US attorney’s prosecution of irregular payments to the actress to keep quiet about an extramarital affair during the 2016 campaign.
Merchan also rejected another defense attempt to exclude testimony or evidence about the three people who received the payments – Daniels, former model Karen McDougal, and a building doorman.
In a separate ruling, the judge also said he would allow testimony about the controversial video related to those payments, leaked by the Access Hollywood network during the 2016 campaign, in which Trump bragged about kissing and groping women without their consent.
“This court rules that the proper balance lies in allowing the People to elicit testimony about a videotaped interview which surfaced on Oct.7, 2016, that contained comments of a sexual nature which Defendant feared could hurt his presidential aspirations,” Merchan wrote.
“However, it is not necessary that the tape itself be introduced into evidence or played to the jury,” he added.
The judge also ruled that Trump and his team cannot say that the charges are new, unusual, or unprecedented, nor disclose data of a personal or professional nature about the prosecutor in their arguments, or claim alleged bias of the court and its staff.
The prosecution accuses the former president and current Republican candidate for the White House of 34 crimes related to 130,000 dollars he paid Daniels during his 2016 campaign, which Trump concealed with Cohen’s collaboration.
As in the other cases against him, Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
First scheduled for Mar. 25, Merchan postponed the trial until mid-April due to numerous documents recently introduced into the case by federal authorities.
The judge is expected to set a new trial date during a hearing scheduled for Monday, Mar. 25, when he will likely address the new evidence. EFE
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