Karen McDougal, who alleges affair with Trump, won't testify in hush money trial

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Scripps News

Posted at 11:41 AM, May 09, 2024


Shortly after Stormy Daniels left the witness stand on Thursday in the hush money trial involving former President Donald Trump in New York, defense attorney Todd Blanche announced that Karen McDougal would not be called to testify.

McDougal, a former Playboy model who allegedly had an affair with the former president and received payment to maintain confidentiality, would have been a crucial witness, as her absence from testifying now leaves Daniels as the sole woman presenting claims of being paid to conceal sexual affairs with Trump.

Daniels was on the stand for a couple of hours on Thursday. It was the second time this week she testified in the trial.

The adult film actress is considered a key figure in the trial as prosecutors attempt to prove Trump illegally falsified business records to influence the 2016 presidential election by trying to cover up extramarital affairs.

Read more: https://www.scrippsnews.com/politics/trump-indictments/stormy-daniels-trump-lawyer-have-tense-exchange-as-testimony-resumes

[hlthe2b]

1. I definitely think they don't need her and to bring her on would be a distraction from

all the prior testimony. I think they need to keep things really tight from now through Michael Cohen's appearance to closing arguments. Just close the loops and tie everything together in a memorable, concise, narrative.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. That was my thought

especially since they already heard Pecker's testimony about her anyway.

[appmanga]

8. The prosecution had to thinking...

...about the Harvey Weinstein appeal and decided, probably with the judge's admonition, her appearance could be prejudicial rather than probative.

[Barry Markson]

3. Why is the defense making this announcement?

Whose witness was she going to be?

[BumRushDaShow]

6. From what I saw from the news sites doing "live updates"

the prosecution decided not to call her and informed the defense, but the defense decided to go out in front of the media to "announce".

[niyad]

9. To make it appear that they are in charge.

[303squadron]

4. This is a documents case

And the prosecution has the documents. Stormy provided a logical reason why the documents exist. Karen McDougal's testimony is not needed.

[viva la]

5. I know-- it's not needed, it would be distracting...

but what fun to see Trump squirm and fume.
And then I imagine him making his 10-second appearance at Barron's graduation, and Melania kicking him out.
Karen McDougall wasn't just a fling partner. She said they were involved for a year, and that Trump said he loved her.

[JT45242]

7. Pecker already said he paid to kill McDougall story

They won't need her for the prosecution unless they use her as a rebuttal witness if the defense tries to say that they weren't catching and killing stories.

[OverBurn]

10. I wish she had to testify too. Just to pound in the fact that he's a lying cheater.