The prosecution in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial has chosen not to have former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal testify.

McDougal, with whom Trump reportedly had an affair, had been set to testify but then former porn star Stormy Daniels’ testimony about her own alleged affair with Trump put a wrench in the plans.

“The [new] plans were only made public after Daniels’ minimally detailed testimony on the stand about the one-night stand in July 2006 managed to make the judge uncomfortable, pissed off the former president, and left jurors with a seedy impression of the business tycoon,” The Daily Beast claims.

The new plans were unveiled by Trump attorney Todd Blanche, who said in court that “we have been informed the People no longer intend to call Karen McDougal as a witness.”

This comes days after McDougal posted the following tweet to social media:

#Reflecting pic.twitter.com/BIX8j5Du5M

— Karen McDougal (@karenmcdougal98) May 4, 2024

Notice the title of the book on her bath table: “Catch and Kill.” This is no coincidence.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the man who brought the case against Trump, has previously described the former president’s alleged effort to pay tabloid magazines to remain silent about his affairs as a “catch-and-kill” scheme meant to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.

Responding to McDougal’s tweet, Democrats lavished her with praise while Republicans pounced, ripping into her like meat.

Take a look at the latter below:

This looks like jury tampering.

— Doug (@Doug__J) May 5, 2024

If you are such a devout Christian why did you have an affair with a married man?

— Karen S. BellPro-Choice and Pro-Israel (@KarenSueBell) May 5, 2024

She’s drinking, not reading. This photo was taken so you’ll think shes an intellectual when she’s just a drunk trashy loser.

— Shotta (@Shotta) May 5, 2024

How did it feel when he offered you cash that first time and then you went back for more? Was it the money, power, fame? Sad for you.

— pedro61 (@pab_odg) May 5, 2024

You are nothing but an extortionist who gives woman around the world bad names! You should be ashamed of yourself! You are the cheater that tried to influence the 2016 election! Shame on you! MAGA

— Murphy (@JoeMurp21047203) May 6, 2024

The whole case centers around the decision by Trump to have his then-attorney, Michael Cohen, pay $130,000 to keep Daniels silent, but according to reports,  he also had a deal with McDougal and with a former Trump Tower doorman.

Trump, for his part, called for a mistrial after Daniels testified, but to no avail.

On Thursday the judge in Trump’s hush money case, Juan Merchan, rejected his request for a mistrial. The former president’s attorneys had claimed that Daniels’ testimony would bias the jury against him.

“Daniels finished testifying earlier Thursday. Trump’s attorneys also unsuccessfully sought to have Daniels excised from the gag order preventing him from discussing witnesses and jurors in the case, but the judge turned down that request as well,” according to the Washington Post.

“We ask that the president be allowed to respond to what Ms. Daniels said in trial,” Trump’s attorney, Blanche, said, in court.

Prosecutor Christopher Conroy reportedly responded by reminding the judge that Trump has a thirst for vengeance, as documented in his 2007 “memoir,” in which he wrote, “My motto is, I always get even.”

“When you are wronged, go after those people because it is a good feeling and because other people will see you doing it. Getting even is not even a personal thing,” the quote from Trump’s book continues.

Judge Merchan was convinced and decided not to alter the gag order.

“My concern is not just with protecting Ms. Daniels or a witness who has already testified,” he said. “My concern is with protecting the integrity of these proceedings as a whole. Witnesses will see what happens … witnesses will see how witnesses who testified will be treated by your client.”

“Other people will see you doing it. And that’s my concern,” he added.

Blanche tried to convince Merchan otherwise, but the judge simply wasn’t listening.

“I can’t take your word for it that, ‘No, no, this is going to be low key, this is not going to be an attack,’ because that’s just not the track record,” the judge said. “It’s precisely because of the nature of these attacks, the vitriol… these were very real, very threatening attacks on potential witnesses. Your client’s track record speaks for itself. I can’t take your word for it.”

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Vivek Saxena

Senior Staff Writer
Vivek@bizpacreview.com

V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.

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