The criminal trial of former President Donald Trump in New York took a surprising turn when prosecutors announced that former Playboy model Karen McDougal would not be called to the stand. Legal analyst Glenn Kirschner described this decision as “bad news” for Trump, as it suggests that the prosecution no longer needs McDougal as a witness. The charges against Trump involve alleged payments to porn star Stormy Daniels to conceal an affair, but there are no criminal charges related to McDougal. Kirschner speculated that the successful testimony from Daniels and lack of direct ties between McDougal and the charges may have led prosecutors to make this decision.
Despite being on the witness list, prosecutors indicated that they no longer intended to call Karen McDougal to testify in Trump’s hush money trial. Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, shared this news in court, prompting speculation from legal experts like Kirschner about the implications for the case. The decision not to use McDougal as a witness may indicate that the prosecution believes the evidence presented so far is strong and that other witnesses have been effective. It was suggested that McDougal’s alleged affair with Trump, especially during Melania Trump’s pregnancy, may have played a role in this decision.
Newsweek reached out to Blanche for comment on the prosecution’s decision not to call Karen McDougal to the stand. In response, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung criticized Kirschner as a purveyor of conspiracy theories and questioned his credibility within the legal community. However, New York University law professor Stephen Gillers offered insights into possible reasons for the prosecution’s decision, including the fact that McDougal was allegedly paid off by a different party and that her testimony might reflect positively on Trump in certain aspects. Additionally, the prosecution may have wanted to avoid introducing additional salacious details to the trial.
The trial of former President Donald Trump in New York revolves around allegations of hush money payments to Stormy Daniels to conceal an affair before the 2016 presidential election. While Karen McDougal was initially on the witness list, prosecutors decided against calling her to testify, leading to speculation about the strength of the case against Trump. Legal analyst Glenn Kirschner argued that the decision not to use McDougal as a witness spells “bad news” for Trump, suggesting that the prosecution may have successfully presented their case without her testimony. The trial continues to draw attention and scrutiny as it unfolds in the courtroom.
