'Too bad': Internet divided as prosecutors decide not to call Karen McDougal to testify in Donald Trump's hush money trial

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Former playboy model Karen McDougal, who had an alleged extramarital affair with Donald Trump in 2006 and was considered a key witness in the hush-money trial case, will not be called by prosecutors to testify against the latter, a defense attorney for the former president revealed on Thursday, May 9, Fox News reports. 

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office told Trump's attorney Todd Blanche that they “no longer” plan to call the ex-model, McDougal to the stand in the New York trial,

The reason for the apparent reversal has not been stated

Blanche did not state a reason for the apparent reversal by the prosecutors who cite a $150,000 payment to McDougal by a tabloid publisher in their case accusing Trump of falsifying business records.

Blanche then asked Merchan to partially lift the gag order on Trump to allow him to speak about porn star Stormy Daniels, another key witness in the case who finished testifying earlier on Thursday, May 9. Merchan promptly denied the request.

Donald Trump's attorney Todd Blanche requested a mistrial 

Blanche first requested a mistrial on Tuesday after Daniels’ first day on the stand but was denied. Merchan did, however, admit she was a difficult witness to control and said much of her testimony was "unnecessary" and "irrelevant" to the charges.

Trump's defense attorney again requested a mistrial on Thursday, May 9. Blanche said that the prosecution asked Daniels "a whole host of questions" that never should have been asked, pointing to questions about the porn actress’ childhood and her alleged interaction with Trump. Blanche argued they were "things that are irrelevant to the facts of this case."

Blanche reminded that the case is not about sex and again stressed that Daniels’ testimony was "extraordinarily prejudicial for the jury to hear." He continued that many of the questions asked by the prosecution were "prejudicial."

"It is so dangerous, so prejudicial, it borders on a problem from the beginning," Blanche said, adding that Daniels' testimony and story about the alleged sexual encounter kept changing.

Donald Trump takes a dig at Judge Juan Merchan following court appearance

Donald Trump took aim at the "totally conflicted" Judge Juan Merchan following his appearance in court on Thursday, May 9. 

"Everybody saw what happened today. I don't think we have to do any expert explaining. I'm not allowed to anyway, because this judge is corrupt. He's a corrupt judge," Trump told reporters in the hallway outside the courtroom. "This judge, what he did and what his ruling was is a disgrace. Everybody saw what happened today. He's a corrupt judge and he's totally conflicted," he added.

"I've got to get back on the campaign trail. I'm not supposed to be here. We are so innocent. There's never been anything like it. ... I'm innocent. And I'm being held in this court with a corrupt judge who's totally conflicted. Take a look at his conflict. It's a disgrace to the city of New York, to the state of New York and to the country," he continued.

Internet reacts as Karen McDougal will not testify in hush money trial

This shocking and new development in the trial case also drew a wide number of responses from Internet users. One X user opined, "Seems like a smart move. Don't want any jurors also thinking that the sole motivation is to embarrass Trump." Another tweeted, "Looks like Karen just got ghosted harder than a bad Tinder date!" 

"I actually agree with this decision. The Trump charges are about the Daniels payments," wrote one user and one added, "I understand the reasons not to call her but I’m bummed. I was more interested in what Ms McDougal had to say than I was about Ms Daniel’s testimony."  "Too bad, I wanted to hear from her. More importantly, Trump didn’t," wrote one. 

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