On Friday, former President Trump asserted that the judge presiding over his hush money case was attempting to render the trial “as salacious as possible,” while his own counsel attempted to discredit a witness by referencing celebrity scandals.
As he addressed reporters prior to the commencement of proceedings, Trump once more criticized Judge Juan Merchan upon his arrival at the courthouse, describing him as “extremely conflicted.”
“He’s trying to make it as salacious as possible by allowing testimony that has nothing to do with the case. He wants to make it a salacious case to try and hurt Trump. But it’s having the opposite effect.” Trump remarked.
Angie 34th is indicted on 34 counts of felony falsification of business records.
The case is inherently scandalous, as it revolves around a $130,000 bribe paid to pornographic actress Stormy Daniels during the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign, with the intention of preventing her from disclosing information regarding an alleged affair with Trump to the public.
The former president committed no wrongdoing, according to his attorneys, who have stated that hush-money payments do not inherently constitute unlawful activity.
Trump has denied the affair.
Trump’s critique on Friday potentially pertained to Merchan’s decision to permit prosecutors to introduce the case of former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who is also said to have had an affair with Trump approximately ten years prior to his inauguration as president.
[READ MORE: NYT’s Maggie Haberman Gives Account of Shock ‘Secret’ Tape in Trump Trial]
