Melania Trump Could Be Called To Testify In Husband Donald's Hush Money Trial
Melania Trump could be called to testify in court in her husband Donald Trump's ongoing hush money trial, according to a lawyer.
The criminal trial against the former president related to allegations that he participated in a scheme with his former attorney, Michael Cohen, to falsify records to cover up reimbursements he had paid to his former lawyer began Monday. The reimbursements were allegedly for a "hush money" that Cohen gave to porn star Stormy Daniels -- real name Stephanie Clifford -- to silence her from publicly disclosing their alleged affair. Trump vehemently denied the affair and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Judge Juan Merchan read the names of possible witnesses, and it included Trump's three adult children: Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric. His wife, Melania, was also on the list, and legal experts said the prosecution could force her to take the stand.
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(Photo : GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images)
"If Melania is subpoenaed by the prosecution, she would have to testify unless she can assert some sort of privilege," former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Newsweek.
Rahmani, however, added that Melania had the spousal privilege codified in the New York law that "protects the confidential communications between spouses during the course of the marriage."
Former federal prosecutor and elected state attorney Michael McAuliffe agreed that the state could legally force Melania to appear as a trial witness. However, he added that "the likelihood of that occurring is extremely low to non-existent." Also, the legal expert doesn't think Melania's statement will help the case.
"Any government attempt to force her to be present as a potential witness would just feed Trump's preferred narrative that the case is about airing salacious rumors instead of holding Trump accountable for crimes," he added.
McAuliffe also stressed that the former first lady wasn't involved in the allegations that Trump had an affair with Daniels.
"In fact, she's the putative victim in the illicit sex part of the story," he said.
The trial is about the alleged $130,000 hush money that Cohen reportedly paid to Daniels to keep her affair with the ex-POTUS a secret ahead of the 2016 election. Prosecutors claimed that Trump falsified business records and paid Cohen $420,000 as reimbursement for the said payment and other expenses but labeled it as a legal fee.
A person with direct knowledge who chose to be anonymous to not jeopardize their relationship with the Trumps told the New York Times that Melania found the trial "a disgrace" and tantamount to election interference. The trial could also allegedly affect Donald's relationship with Melania, who defended him from his previous scandals, like when he bragged on tape that he grabbed women by their privates.
Meanwhile, Stephanie Grisham, the former Trump administration secretary and communications director and former chief of staff to Melania, claimed earlier that the legal battle could spell trouble for Trump because he reportedly fears and respects his wife. She was also certain that Trump would continue to deny the affair because confirming it would not do him good legally and would only suggest that the payoff happened.
