Prosecutors in Manhattan are preparing to question former President Donald Trump about his past legal issues if he chooses to testify at his New York criminal trial. They plan to use his recent legal run-ins, including the civil fraud trial with the New York attorney general, as a way to discredit him to the jury. Trump was found liable for committing fraud by inflating the value of his assets to obtain better loan rates in that trial. Prosecutors also want to ask him about the false testimony he allegedly gave on the stand in that case.
Another topic that prosecutors intend to bring up is the case involving E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of raping her in 1996 and defaming her after she came forward with her allegations in 2019. Juries have awarded Carroll nearly $90 million in damages in that case. Additionally, prosecutors plan to address Trump’s dismissed lawsuit against Hillary Clinton and the dissolution of the Donald J. Trump Foundation as part of their strategy to undermine his credibility.
Prosecutors also cited Trump’s company’s 2022 tax fraud conviction as another aspect they will question him about. This case was also tried by the DA’s office before Judge Juan Merchan. To determine what information is relevant for prosecutors to ask Trump about if he testifies, the judge plans to hold a Sandoval hearing, which is a common preliminary proceeding that reviews a defendant’s criminal history and sets boundaries on the scope of questioning.
Judge Merchan mentioned that a Sandoval hearing could be conducted on Friday, depending on how quickly jury selection is completed. This procedural step will help establish what can be addressed during Trump’s potential testimony in his defense at trial. The hearing will assist in defining what information from Trump’s past legal issues can be used by prosecutors during questioning. The specifics of the hearing and its potential impact on the trial proceedings will be determined in the coming days.
Prosecutors are strategizing to use Trump’s legal troubles, such as the recent verdicts against him, to undermine his credibility if he chooses to testify in his New York criminal trial. By questioning him about his past legal entanglements, like the civil fraud trial with the New York attorney general and the E. Jean Carroll case, they aim to shape the jury’s perception of Trump. The judge’s plan to hold a Sandoval hearing will help determine the boundaries of questioning during Trump’s potential testimony, ultimately influencing how prosecutors can use Trump’s past against him during the trial.
