The judge says no to both requests. He won't allow the DA's office to show jurors the Access Hollywood tape or the notorious "fortunately" clip. Merchan said it's starting to feel like this trial is dipping into multiple trials.
Prosecutors are continuing down this road. Now they say they want to bring up the many sexual assault allegations against Trump, which Steinglass said would show how desperate Trump was to coverup the Stormy Daniels affair.
Defense lawyer Todd Blanche: "Again, we are talking about a complete and prejudicial sideshow that has nothing to do with the issues in this case!" "These accusations are never proven, ever."
The judge won't play ball. He won't allow that into this case. Merchan: "They are very, very prejudicial. And at this point, it was just a rumor. It was just gossip. Complete hearsay. Did it happen? There’s nothing to prove that. It’s not fair."
As the DA's office starts going over then-President Trump's tweets about Michael Cohen "flipping," Trump leans forward and squints to read his words from some six years ago.
Here it comes again. That moment I dread at each Trump trial, and one that keeps happening over and over again. Prosecutors point to crazy stuff he said on Truth Social. Steinglass: Just last Wednesday... Me, trying to find the link: NOOO that was like 5,000 posts ago, aagghhh
Shortly before the lunch break, prosecutors took an aggressive stance against Trump. They want him sanctioned, like, right now. thedailybeast.com/manhattan-da-a…
Now that we're back from lunch, the DA's office is complaining about the way the defense team has yet to file *a single* designated exhibit. It's odd. Potential jurors are on the verge of walking into the courtroom, and we still don't know what Defense Exhibit A is going to be.
Blanche counters that they just haven't had the time... they received so many new docs from SDNY... it's been so busy these last few weeks... Merchan isn't having it. We've reached that moment that we keep hitting at every one of these Trump trials.
Merchan: You have 24 hours. Blanche: Can we have until Wednesday night? Merchan: "You’ve made a decision about how you’re going to use your time. And that’s fine. That’s your decision to make. But you have 24 hours."
@Jose_Pagliery His attorneys are negotiating like kids at bedtime.
@srcoppa @Jose_Pagliery kid and bedtime both fit here...
@srcoppa @Jose_Pagliery Worth every penny the RNC is paying them, I'm sure.
@srcoppa @Jose_Pagliery Or, like me, when I had a splinter and my parents were trying to remove it!