Trump blames hush money judge’s rulings for why he declined to testify
Former President Trump on Wednesday explained his rationale for not taking the stand in his hush money trial despite saying for months he would be willing to do so.
Trump, in an interview with WABC Radio in New York, partly attributed the decision to rulings from Judge Juan Merchan throughout the trial when other witnesses were on the stand that were oftentimes not in his defense team's favor.
Earlier in the trial, the judge narrowed the scope of what Trump could be asked about on the stand but allowed prosecutors to ask the former president about other civil cases he was involved in, namely the one involving columnist E. Jean Carroll.
"Because he made rulings that makes it very difficult to testify," Trump said. "Anything I did, anything I did in the past they can bring everything up. And you know what, I’ve had a great past."
"The other reason is because they have no case," Trump added. "In other words, why testify when they have no case ... There’s no crime … so when you say, 'Why not testify,' they have no case, other than it’s a corrupt system."
Trump earlier in the month accused Merchan of "doing everything in his power to make this trial as salacious as possible, even though these things have NOTHING to do with this FAKE case."
The criticism was possibly a reference to the judge allowing prosecutors to raise the story of former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who also allegedly had an affair with Trump roughly a decade before he was elected president.
Prosecutors called 20 witnesses over 15 days of testimony before resting its case Monday. Trump's defense team called two witnesses and rested its case Tuesday, without calling the former president to the stand.
Trump had for weeks said he was willing to testify, but he had been coy about whether he would actually take the stand. Legal experts had warned it could be risky to allow Trump to testify, particularly given his combative nature and his penchant for false or misleading statements.
The former president faces 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment Michael Cohen made to porn actress Stormy Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 election to stay quiet about her alleged affair with Trump from 2006, which he denies. Trump has pleaded not guilty.
The jury is expected to deliberate on the case next week.
Date: | |
Tag: | Donald Trump |
Filter
-
Alex Jones' bankruptcy for media company dismissed, but judge rules he can liquidate personal assets
A federal bankruptcy judge on Friday granted conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' request to convert his bankruptcy filing into a liquidation of his personal assets in order to pay the massive defamation verdicts owed to the families of Sandy Hook ...NBC News - Top stories -
Federal Judge Blocks Biden Administration’s Title IX Rules in 4 States
The ruling was the first salvo in a national legal battle over the new regulations, which extend stronger protections to L.G.B.T.Q. students.The New York Times - Top stories - Joe Biden -
Portrayal of character in Steve Coogan’s film The Lost King is defamatory, judge rules
Coogan, production company Baby Cow and Pathe, the distributors of the 2022 film, will now face a full trial. The portrayal of a former university official in Steve Coogan’s film about the discovery of the remains of Richard III is defamatory, a ...The Guardian - World -
Judge dismisses lawsuit challenging federal rules to accommodate abortions for workers
A lawsuit filed by 17 states challenging federal rules entitling workers to time off and other accommodations for abortions lacks standing, a federal judge in Arkansas ruled on Friday.NBC News - Top stories -
Chinese soccer fans are pouring money into a food stall run by Singapore's goalkeeper. Here's why
Chinese soccer fans have poured their love — and money — into a Singaporean goalkeeper’s food stall after his performance in a game this week indirectly helped China advance to the third qualifying round for the World Cup in 2026ABC News - Sports -
Why Rodman's son believes he's NBA ready after Warriors workout
Dennis Rodman's son DJ detailed why he believes he's NBA ready after a pre-draft workout with the Warriors on Thursday at Chase Center.Yahoo Sports - Sports - NBA -
Russell Crowe Shares Why He Refused To Be In The Lord Of The Rings
Even before Russell Crowe won an Oscar for Best Actor for Gladiator, he was an in-demand performer near the turn of the century. That's right around the time when director Peter Jackson was putting together the cast for his Lord of the Rings ...GameSpot - Tech -
Louisiana GOP Rep. Garret Graves won't seek re-election after Supreme Court ruling on redistricting
Louisiana Rep. Garret Graves announced Friday that he would not seek re-election following a redistricting battle that was recently decided by the Supreme Court.NBC News - Politics -
Trump says he can't be racist because he has 'many Black friends'
Former President Donald Trump claimed he can't be racist because he has "so many Black friends" in a new interviewNBC News - Top stories - Donald Trump -
Trump once defied the NRA to ban bump stocks. He now says he 'did nothing' to restrict guns
Donald Trump’s campaign has found itself defending a Supreme Court decision to strike down a ban that he himself had hailed as an achievement on gun control six years agoABC News - Tech - Donald Trump
More from The Hill
-
Watch live: Trump gives keynote at 'The People's Convention' in Detroit
Former President Trump is set to headline Turning Point USA's "The People's Convention" Saturday in Detroit. Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee for the White House, is also expected to use the trip to key battleground state Michigan as a way to ...The Hill - Politics - Donald Trump -
Crockett calls Thomas 'corrupt' after Supreme Court decision to upend bump stocks ban
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) slammed Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas as “corrupt” during an interview with MSNBC on the court’s recent decision to overturn a Trump-era bump stock ban. Thomas has come under increasing scrutiny for gifts he ...The Hill - Politics -
Eyeing Trump presidency, conservatives want to delay funding fight
Bullish of former President Trump’s chances of winning back the White House in November, some conservatives are pitching a funding stopgap that would extend into next year rather than expire during a lame duck session when President Biden would ...The Hill - Politics - Donald Trump -
Iran and Sweden to swap prisoners, including convicted war criminal
Iran agreed Saturday to release two Swedish nationals held in Tehran for over two years in exchange for a convicted Iranian war criminal tied to the 1988 mass killing of protestors critical of the Islamic Republic in the capital city. While ...The Hill - Politics - Iran -
Raskin hits Republicans for bowing to 'sugar daddy' Trump after Capitol visit
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) criticized his Republican colleagues in Congress Saturday after they met with former President Trump in closed-door meetings earlier this week, calling the positivity around the visit "a scandal and a disgrace." The ...The Hill - Politics - Donald Trump