If Donald J. Trump takes the stand at his criminal trial in Manhattan, prosecutors want to cross-examine him about recent lawsuits he’s lost, attacks he’s made on women and a judge’s opinion that his sworn statements in a civil case rang “hollow and untrue.”In hearing on Friday afternoon, the prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney’s office who want to ask those questions will seek permission from Justice Juan M. Merchan, the state judge presiding over Mr. Trump’s trial on charges that he falsified business records to cover up reimbursements for a hush-money payment made to a keep a sex scandal quiet.
The proceeding, known as a Sandoval hearing, is a high-stakes affair for all the parties: the prosecutors, the defense team, Mr. Trump and Justice Merchan himself.
Whatever the judge decides will inform whether the former president decides to testify and, if he does, what prosecutors can ask him.
Though Mr. Trump has said he would testify in his own defense, there have been plenty of signs that he is not fully committed to doing so.
This week, his lawyers asked prospective jurors to assure them that they wouldn’t hold a failure to testify against Mr. Trump.
Persons:
Donald J, Trump, he’s, Juan M, Trump’s, Sandoval, Justice Merchan
Organizations:
Justice, Mr
Locations:
Manhattan