Former president Donald Trump is facing intense legal scrutiny in his secret case as he stands trial on charges of manipulating corporate documents as part of a plan to disrupt the 2016 election process.
On Friday, Manhattan prosecutors said they wanted to investigate two cases in which Trump and his team were allegedly caught red-handed: the Trump Organization payroll tax fraud trial and last year’s civil fraud trial.
While Trump has openly pledged to testify in his defense in the secret trial following a contentious preliminary hearing, his lawyers have clashed with prosecutors over the admissibility of “prior bad acts” that could influence the jury’s perception.
Considerable tensions were seen in court, particularly when Trump’s history of alleged sexual misconduct was mentioned.
Read also: Donald Trump’s legal team once again supports judge’s recusal in high-profile Hush Money case
The defense strongly objected to these references, arguing that the trial should have focused exclusively on the documents.
However, the prosecution argued that Trump’s credibility is critical for the jury to consider, especially if he chooses to testify.
The trial comes against the backdrop of Trump’s broader legal challenges and his continued denial of any wrongdoing. The consequences could vary significantly if convicted, potentially affecting Trump’s future political and economic endeavors.
Now read: Donald Trump defeated the Manhattan district attorney by gaining access to Michael Cohen’s emails. Here’s what happens next.
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