In Donald Trump‘s criminal trial concerning hush money payments, prosecutors aim to probe the former president about prior civil cases, as per a document disclosed Wednesday.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office intends to address Trump’s history of sexual abuse and fraud allegations during a potential cross-examination.
It’s up to Justice Juan Merchan to determine the admissibility of these inquiries, weighing their relevance against potential prejudice.
The trial, the first of its kind involving a former U.S. president, commenced on Monday, with jury selection still in progress.
Trump faces accusations of concealing attorney Michael Cohen‘s payment of $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels to silence her about an alleged affair prior to the 2016 election. Denying any encounter with Daniels, Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecutors notified Trump’s defense team in March that if he takes the stand, they intend to challenge his credibility by addressing two civil cases.
These cases involve allegations of sexual misconduct against writer E. Jean Carroll and accusations of fraudulent property valuation brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
While Trump refutes these claims and is appealing the verdicts, the cases resulted in substantial financial penalties.
Justin Danilewitz, a legal expert, noted the relevance of some evidence but cautioned against excessive prejudicial material.
Introducing too much-unrelated information could provide grounds for an appeal. Justice Merchan indicated a potential hearing regarding the admissibility of these inquiries, depending on the conclusion of jury selection.
The hush money trial marks the first of four criminal indictments facing Trump, with potential implications for the upcoming election.
He faces charges related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and mishandling of classified documents post-presidency, maintaining his innocence in all cases.
