Trump gets small victory as judge rules infamous 2005 Access Hollywood tape can’t be played and jury won’t hear sex assault claims from 2016 as they are ‘complete hearsay’
Donald Trump scored a narrow victory in his historic hush money trial in Manhattan when the judge ruled that the infamous Access Hollywood tape will not be played for jurors.
However, prosecutors can bring in a full transcript and read it word for word.
Judge Juan Merchan also denied any reports of sexual abuse allegations in the final weeks of the 2016 campaign, saying they are “complete rumors.”
The Access Hollywood clip is from 2005 and in it Trump, then a reality TV star, described to NBC host Billy Bush how he met and seduced women.
He said, “I’m not even waiting. And if you’re a star, they let you do that. You can do anything. … Grab them by the p****.”
In this 2005 video clip, Donald Trump prepares for an appearance on “Days of Our Lives” with actress Arianne Zucker (center). He is accompanied to the set by Access Hollywood host Billy Bush
In this courtroom sketch, Judge Juan M. Merchan presides over the trial of former US President Donald Trump in a criminal court in Manhattan in New York, Monday, April 15, 2024
In this courtroom sketch, former U.S. President Donald Trump, left, sits with his attorney Todd Blanche, before Judge Juan M. Merchan, at the start of his trial in a Manhattan criminal court in New York, Monday, April 15, 2024
The tape was made public before the 2016 election and damaged Trump in the polls, but he went on to win the election over Hillary Clinton.
Judge Merchan ruled that a transcript of the tape could be read to the jury, but said the tape itself will not be played.
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass, who argued for it to be played at trial, said it was “inflammatory” and a “confession, or at least a description of sexual assault.”
Steinglass said that this ‘is more than just commentary of a sexual nature’.
Trump defended his 2005 profanity as ‘locker room talk’
Former US President Donald Trump returns from a hiatus as jury selection begins in his trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 15, 2024 in New York City
Donald Trump will appear before the Supreme Court of the State of New York on Monday morning, April 15, 2024
He said prosecutors would introduce 2016 emails from Steve Bannon to Michael Cohen that said the Access Hollywood tape was “all over the place.”
Steinglass said this was “powerful evidence of the campaign’s response to the inflammatory evidence and explains why the campaign was so eager to explain its words as ‘locker room talk.’
Daniels was “living proof that the suspect wasn’t all talk,” Steinglass said.
In another ruling, Judge Merchan denied a request to dismiss reports published after the Access Hollywood tape came out about three other women accusing Trump.
Merchan said they were “very, very biased” and “just gossiping.”