The judge presiding over former President Trump’s hush money trial has made a controversial decision to exclude footage of the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape from being shown to jurors. Judge Juan Merchan reiterated his stance on Monday, stating that he believes the tape should not be introduced as evidence in the trial.
The “Access Hollywood” tape, which surfaced before the 2016 election, captured Trump making lewd comments to host Billy Bush about his interactions with women. Despite the prosecution’s argument that the tape is crucial evidence of Trump’s behavior, the judge has maintained that it is not necessary for the jury to see the video itself.
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass argued that the tape is an admission of sexual assault and played a significant role in Trump’s presidential campaign. However, Trump’s attorney countered that the video is prejudicial and too salacious for the jury to consider.
The trial centers around payments made by Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to silence her alleged affair with Trump. Trump has denied the affair and pleaded not guilty to the charges of falsifying business records.
As the trial gets underway, Trump faces the possibility of more than 10 years in prison if convicted. Jury selection is expected to last at least a week, with the trial projected to continue for six weeks. Trump has denounced the case as “political persecution,” claiming it is an attack on him as a political opponent.
