In a recent development in the trial of NY v. Trump, the prosecution has announced that they will not be calling former Playboy model Karen McDougal to testify. This decision was revealed by defense attorney Todd Blanche, who stated that the prosecution informed him of their decision.
Karen McDougal had previously alleged that she had a monthslong affair with Donald Trump in 2006 and was reportedly paid $150,000 by the National Enquirer's parent company to keep quiet about it. However, Trump has consistently denied these allegations.
The payments made to McDougal, along with those made to former adult film actress Stormy Daniels, have been at the center of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's investigation into Trump. While these payments were also scrutinized by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York and the Federal Election Commission, no charges were brought against Trump in relation to the hush money payments.
In 2019, federal prosecutors in SDNY decided not to pursue charges against Trump despite his former attorney, Michael Cohen, implicating him as part of his plea deal. Additionally, the Federal Election Commission closed its investigation into the matter in 2021.
This latest development in the trial marks a significant decision by the prosecution, and it will be interesting to see how the case unfolds without McDougal's testimony.
