(UnitedHeadlines.com) – On March 18, Judge Juan Merchan denied a motion from former President Donald Trump’s attorneys that would have blocked Stormy Daniels and former Trump attorney Michael Cohen from testifying in his hush money trial in New York.
Trump’s attorneys had filed the motion, seeking to block testimony from the two key witnesses in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case, Cohen and Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. Trump’s attorneys argued Cohen allegedly committed perjury when he lied during his testimony last year in Trump’s New York civil fraud trial. Trump’s attorneys argued Daniels would try to use the trial to monetize her story.
In his decision, Merchan wrote that he denied the motion because Cohen had not been charged with perjury for the testimony.
Merchan also denied the request of Trump’s attorneys to block testimony from or evidence about three people, including Daniels, former Playboy model Karen McDougal, and a doorman, all of whom allegedly received hush money payments.
Merchan also ruled testimony about Trump’s “Access Hollywood” tape would be allowed but that playing the tape for jurors was “not necessary” as it could cause Trump “undue prejudice.” However, he said, “Should the Defense open the door,” he could reconsider that ruling. Prosecutors allege the October 2016 payment was made to Daniels because that recording of Trump was leaked to the public.
Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records related to allegedly concealing the reimbursement of payments that Cohen allegedly made before the 2016 election to adult film star Daniels to keep her from going public about her alleged affair with Trump. Daniels claims she had an affair with Trump in 2006, though the former president denies the affair and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Originally set to begin on March 25, the trial’s start was delayed until at least the middle of April after a last-minute dispute over evidence disclosure. After the March 25 court hearing, Merchan is expected to set a new trial date.
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