In the latest episode of what feels like a never-ending legal drama series starring former President Donald Trump, we’ve got some juicy updates that’ll make your head spin – and possibly make you chuckle at the absurdity of it all. Trump, known for his “subtle” demeanor (insert sarcasm here), found himself in a Manhattan courtroom looking every bit the part of a man who’d rather be anywhere else. Why? Because District Judge Juan Merchan just threw a curveball that even Trump’s fingers couldn’t catch.
Merchan ruled that the transcript of Trump’s infamous Access Hollywood tape could be read into the record during the trial. Yes, the very same tape where Trump shared his, let’s say, “unique” approach to wooing women. However, the prosecution’s request to play the actual tape was denied. Imagine the scene: attorneys dramatically reading out those lines in court. It’s like a bad SNL skit, except it’s real life.
The tape apparently serves a purpose beyond shocking the public. The prosecution aims to show that Trump’s struggle to attract female voters in 2016 led him to allegedly pay a six-figure settlement to silence an affair. Trump could also face questions about a recent $364 million settlement in a New York real estate case and other actions deemed “criminal, vicious, and immoral.” It’s like the judge compiled a greatest hits album of Trump’s legal woes.
Adding a sprinkle of salt to Trump’s wounds, he may also be questioned about racking up $15,000 in fines for making “untrue, disparaging” posts about a clerk. If Trump were a character in Monopoly, he’d be dangerously close to landing on Boardwalk with a hotel, owned by none other than Judge Merchan.
As if the courtroom drama wasn’t enough, Trump took to Truth Social to lament how his supporters are being treated like second-class citizens compared to anti-Trump protesters. According to Trump, it’s a tale of two protests: one silenced, the other free to wreak havoc. His call for “America Loving Protesters” to be allowed their day in court (figuratively speaking) highlights what he sees as a double standard in the justice system.
In the end, all of this will be for nothing, as I expect Trump to still emerge victorious in this trial and once he’s elected President again, this will all go away.