Donald Trump alleges Judge Juan Merchan is making his hush money trial 'as salacious as possible'

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Former President Donald Trump has accused Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan of attempting to make his ongoing criminal hush money trial "salacious."

The trial entered its 11th day on Friday, May 3, and saw some key witnesses take the stand.

Donald Trump's accusations against Judge Juan Merchan

In a recent post on Truth Social, Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on Judge Juan Merchan, alleging bias and misconduct in the handling of his trial.

Trump asserts that the judge is unfairly influencing the proceedings to benefit the prosecution, led by DA Alvin Bragg.

“This Corrupt and HIGHLY Conflicted New York Judge, Juan Merchan, is doing everything in his power to make this trial as salacious as possible, even though these things have NOTHING to do with this FAKE case," Trump wrote.

"He gives us nothing, gives the everything to the Crooked D.A., Alvin Bragg. ELECTION INTERFERENCE - BIDEN WITCH HUNT TRIAL!!!" he concluded the post.

Judge Juan Merchan’s rulings on admitting 'Access Hollywood' tape as evidence

Meanwhile, Judge Merchan reiterated his ruling that the full transcript of the ‘Access Hollywood’ tape can be admitted as evidence, but may not be necessary for the trial.

He stated that the story in the Washington Post with a photo of Trump is “damning evidence” and he does not want those words associated with a photo of Trump for the jury.

“It’s very powerful evidence, it’s damning evidence, and I don’t think it’s necessary,” Merchan said on Friday.

Previously in April, Judge Merchan ruled that prosecutors can’t play the 'Access Hollywood' tape for jurors, but he will allow them to introduce evidence of what Trump said on the recording.

On the infamous tape, which came to light during the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump can be heard saying, “When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything," adding: “Grab them by the p****. You can do anything.”

Hope Hicks recalls Donald Trump's reaction after 'Access Hollywood' leaked 

The latest to take the witness stand on Friday were Georgia Longstreet, a paralegal in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, and a key witness, Hope Hicks, once considered one of Trump’s closest confidantes and most trusted aides.

Hicks recalled on the witness stand about Trump saying about 'Access Hollywood' tapes, "He said that didn't sound like something he would say," noting Trump asked to see the actual tape.

Hicks said Donald Trump "didn't want to offend anybody... I think he felt like it was pretty standard stuff for two guys chatting with each other," she said referencing to 'Access Hollywood' tape, reported CNN.

Internet reacts to Donald Trump’s claims on the 'salacious' trial

Internet reacted strongly to Trump’s accusations of his trial being made more salacious.

Chief White House correspondent Simon Ateba of the Today News Africa in Washington noted that “By allowing the prosecution to introduce the transcript to the tape, Judge Merchan has made it possible to expand discussions on sex in an open court, making the trial as salacious as possible.”

He added, “The case in question has little to do with sex or the salacious details and nothing to do with the Hollywood tape but by focusing on sex and women and lewd comments, the aim might be to discredit Trump in the eyes of the voters, what he has called election interference.”

An X user commented, “This case is nothing but election interference.” One more added, “Democrats' weaponization of government against political foes, Is what dictator-type governments do.” 

“It’s not working. Trump has never been more popular than he is now,” wrote one more.

"Collateral evidence is illegal and is the reason the Harvey Weinstein conviction was overturned. Merchan(t) doesn’t care about rules and laws. Why? He’s a Democrat," another wrote.

"What the hell does that have to do with this freaking trial?" wrote another. "blame trump for it :))," wrote one. 

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