Manhattan prosecutors have been granted permission to question former President Donald Trump about prior court rulings regarding fraud and defamation during his historic hush money trial. Should Trump take the stand, prosecutors will be allowed to delve into cases where he was found liable for such offenses.
However, allegations of sexual abuse from a civil case will not be admissible as evidence. This ruling came after a Sandoval hearing held last week, where the judge ensured that Trump was fully aware of the potential lines of questioning in cross-examination.
During opening arguments on Monday morning, prosecutors requested permission to introduce questions about Trump’s previous fraud and defamation cases. Judge Juan Merchan largely approved their request, stating that such evidence could be used to assess Trump’s credibility but not as proof of a crime.
Prosecutors also sought to bring up Trump’s violations of a gag order in a civil trial involving allegations of fraud in his real estate empire. The judge allowed this line of questioning as well.
Trump’s defense attorney, Emil Bove, argued against introducing the sexual abuse findings from the defamation case, claiming it would be prejudicial to the hush money case. However, prosecutors cited the jury’s award of $2 million in compensatory and punitive damages to E Jean Carroll, the alleged victim in the defamation case.
Prosecutors also intend to introduce evidence related to the collapse of the Trump Foundation, which was dissolved by a court order in 2018. They allege that Trump breached his fiduciary duties by using the foundation to boost his campaign and orchestrate fundraisers.
The judge did not grant prosecutors’ request to address felony convictions involving the Trump Organization. Bove argued that the case involving tax fraud convictions against two subsidiaries had nothing to do with Trump.
