‘Access Hollywood’ tape won’t be played at Donald Trump’s hush-money criminal trial, judge rules

NEW YORK (AP) — The infamous “Access Hollywood” video in which Donald Trump bragged about grabbing women sexually without asking permission will not be shown to jurors at the former president’s hush-money criminal trial, a New York judge ruled Monday.

Judge Juan M. Merchan said Manhattan prosecutors can still question witnesses about the 2005 tape, which wasn’t made public until the final weeks of Trump’s 2016 White House campaign. But the judge said “it is not necessary that the tape itself be introduced into evidence or that it be played for the jury.”

Merchan said he found the tape “relevant to the critical issues” in the case, including the prosecution’s contention that it helps establish Trump’s intent and motive for making and concealing a hush-money arrangement at the heart of the case. However, siding with Trump’s lawyers, he said playing it could be unduly prejudicial.

Merchan issued his rulings on the “Access Hollywood” tape and other issues even after deciding last Friday to postpone the trial until at least mid-April to deal with a last-minute evidence dump that Trump’s lawyers said was hampering their ability to prepare their defense.

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