(TheRedWire.com) – Adult film actress Stormy Daniels has been excused from complying with a subpoena issued by the defense team of former President Donald Trump, as his legal proceedings persist.
The decision was made by Judge Juan Merchan on a recent Wednesday, denying Trump’s legal team’s request to procure documents from Daniels that pertain to the ongoing trial. Judge Merchan described the subpoena as excessively broad, characterizing it as an indiscriminate search through private records with the aim of potentially undermining witness credibility.
Trump, who is the likely Republican candidate for the upcoming presidential race, faces allegations from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of doctoring business documents to conceal a $130,000 payment. This payment, made just before the 2016 U.S. election, was purportedly to prevent Daniels from publicizing a claimed sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, which Trump vehemently denies.
The prosecution argues that this act was part of a broader scheme to suppress damaging information from reaching the electorate during a period when Trump was also accused of several instances of sexual misconduct. Despite these allegations, Trump succeeded in securing the presidency in 2016.
The defense team sought all documents related to a documentary featuring Daniels that was released on the streaming service Peacock earlier this year. Daniels, who was approached with the subpoena while at a nightclub in Brooklyn on March 18, disregarded it. Both her legal representatives and the prosecution have urged the judge to nullify it.
Daniels is slated to testify against Trump in the trial. Trump has publicly disparaged her on Truth Social, labeling her a “sleazebag.” Additionally, Trump has voiced criticism against Judge Merchan via the same platform, demanding his removal from the case and accusing him of bias towards the Democratic Party.
This trial is notable for being the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president and is one of four legal challenges Trump faces that will be judged by a jury. The trial is expected to continue for up to two months.
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