Todd Blanche, Trump’s attorney, filed a motion for a mistrial following lunch. He said that prosecutors had exceeded their authority by questioning Stormy Daniels this morning in a way that was not authorized.
Daniels’ claims that she “blacked out” during her sexual rendezvous with Trump and that she chose public events to meet with Trump thereafter were among the instances given by Blanche.
According to Blanche, they are “extraordinarily prejudicial” and might influence the jury’s decision-making process.
As Blanche informed the judge, “unring this bell” is not an option.
During Keith Davidson’s testimony on Daniels’ alleged threat in a Las Vegas parking lot, prosecutor Susan Hoffinger claimed that the defense had introduced an exhibit, which allowed her to ask Daniels the questions she did.
Justice Juan Merchan rejected the request and placed some of the responsibility on the defense for letting the witness’s statements deviate from the case’s evidence.
It would have been preferable to keep some things unsaid, the judge remarked. He did, however, mention that he had to object himself at one point and was astonished by how few objections the defense brought during the hearing.
“The defense has to take some responsibility for that,” the court stated.
Merchan continued by saying that Trump’s legal team can attempt to mitigate the impact of the criticisms leveled against Daniels during cross-examination.
Outside of court, Merchan had Hoffinger talk with Daniels and tell her to be more forthright.
Trump, who is notorious for wanting his attorneys to be very aggressive, is likely to be enraged by Merchan’s remarks regarding the defense team’s failures to oppose.
