Judge Juan Merchan has made a significant ruling in the ongoing legal proceedings involving former President Donald Trump. The judge has stated that if Trump decides to take the stand, prosecutors will be allowed to inquire into six specific determinations, which include four separate proceedings.
One of the key points that Judge Merchan will permit prosecutors to question Trump about is the civil fraud verdict. This verdict found Trump guilty of violating the law by artificially inflating the value of his properties. As a result, he was ordered to pay penalties for his actions.
In addition to the civil fraud verdict, Judge Merchan will also allow prosecutors to delve into Trump's violations of Judge Arthur Engoron's gag order. During the trial last fall, Trump was found to have breached the gag order on two separate occasions, which will now be fair game for questioning.
These rulings by Judge Merchan set the stage for a potentially intense cross-examination of Trump should he choose to testify in court. The allowance for questioning on these specific determinations sheds light on the seriousness of the allegations against Trump and the importance of ensuring a thorough examination of the facts in the legal proceedings.
