Former President Donald Trump is taking steps to prevent porn star Stormy Daniels and his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen from testifying at his upcoming criminal trial concerning hush money payments made before the 2016 election.
Trump, facing multiple indictments as he eyes a return to the presidency, denies allegations of falsifying business records related to Cohen’s $130,000 payment to Daniels to maintain her silence about an alleged 2006 sexual encounter. Trump maintains his innocence and refutes Daniels’ claims of a liaison.
Cohen’s History of Deception:
Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, argues that Cohen, with a track record of dishonesty, will likely lie again during the trial. Blanche contends that Daniels intends to exploit the trial for personal gain by fabricating stories from nearly two decades ago.
Cohen’s Role and Prosecution Strategy:
Cohen, who argued guilty to violating campaign finance laws and lying to Congress, is expected to testify against Trump.
Prosecutors allege that the hush money payments were part of a broader scheme to conceal Trump’s extramarital affairs, including a payment made to Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Prosecutors’ Request and Defense Strategy:
Prosecutors seek a gag order to prevent Trump from disparaging witnesses and others involved in the case.
Trump’s defense aims to preclude arguments suggesting that the payments aimed to influence the 2016 election, citing potential reputational damage separate from Trump’s candidacy.
Trial Details and Potential Outcomes:
The trial is planned to begin on March 25 and could last up to six weeks. Trump, a frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination, faces additional legal challenges related to his 2020 election efforts and post-office handling of government documents, maintaining his plea of not guilty across all charges.