A former Manhattan prosecutor has weighed in on the impact Melania Trump’s testimony could have on her husband, Donald Trump’s ongoing hush money trial.
Mark Bederow, a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor for the Manhattan district attorney’s office, said Melania’s testimony may prove to be a “very powerful” boost in the criminal case.
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Melania Trump Could Support Donald Trump In Hush Money Trial With ‘Very Powerful’ Testimony
Trump could make use of an extra hand in his ongoing hush money trial, and all the better if it comes from his wife.
According to Newsweek, a former Manhattan prosecutor, Mark Bederow, shared that the former first lady’s testimony would come in handy following speculations that she may be forced to testify against Trump.
Bederow insists that Melania’s testimony is “potentially very powerful” and could be used to Trump’s advantage, adding, “There’s no question that Melania is the most important family member to be there.”
“Certainly, if Melania were there supporting him, that potentially sends a message that ‘I support him, I’m OK, I believe, perhaps, this didn’t happen,'” Bederow said. “I think that can only have a positive impact on the jury.”
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Making Melania Trump Testify Could ‘Backfire’ On Alvin Bragg
Bederow’s comments on the “powerful” potential of Melania’s testimony came after former Trump aide, “The Views” Alyssa Farah Griffin, stated that making the ex-first lady testify in court could “backfire” on Manhattan District attorney Alvin Bragg.
On Wednesday, last week, Griffin discussed the possibility of Melania being called forward to testify against her husband, noting that it might do more harm than good for the prosecution.
She said, “I think this will come down to more of a paper trail kind of case and I think they have the facts there.”
Griffin added, “I think to call her [Melania] would look salacious, would likely backfire too. She’s never broken with him on major issues.”
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Donald Trump’s Family Has Not Stood By His Side In Court Since The Beginning of The Trial
The presumptive Republican party candidate is undergoing trial for falsifying records to cover an alleged $130,000 payment to former adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to the allegations and called the trial a “scam” and an “election interference” effort.
Since the trial began last Monday, he has notably not received physical support from any of his family members, although Melania and his three oldest children—Donald Jr., Eric, and Ivanka—were listed as possible witnesses by Judge Juan Merchan during the first day of trial.
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According to Page Six, Ivanka made a rare sighting in New York last week after she was seen leaving the ritzy Aman Hotel in Midtown, but a source claimed she shouldn’t be expected to drop by in court to support her father.
“I’m told Ivanka has spoken to her father over the last few days and remains as supportive as ever,” an insider said. They added, “One thing that is for certain is that she will not be in court for the Stormy Daniels trial, and neither will Melania. The trial remains embarrassing for all the Trump women.”
Stormy Daniels’ Former Attorney Is ‘Happy’ Testify For Donald Trump
Trump’s quest to prove his innocence may have scored a boost after Daniels’ former attorney, Michael Avenatti, made his intention to testify for Trump known.
In a recent interview with the New York Post, Avenatti said that he has contacted the former president’s legal team and would like to testify for him in court.
Although he kept the details of their conversation close to his chest, he shared that he believes the trial is “politically motivated” and that Trump “would win” if it were to be held today.
“The defense has contacted me,” Avenatti told the news outlet in a phone call from Terminal Island federal prison in Los Angeles.
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“I’d be more than happy to testify, I don’t know that I will be called to testify, but I have been in touch with Trump’s defense for the better part of the year,” Avenatti said.
Michael Avenatti Believes The Ex-President Has A Chance
The disgraced attorney went ahead to say that he believes his former client would shoot herself in the foot as he expects her to commit perjury if called as a witness.
Avenatti called Daniels a poor witness and criticized her past claims of speaking to dead people and her possession of a “haunted” doll named Susan.
“Stormy Daniels is going to say whatever she believes is going to assist Stormy Daniels and putting more money in her pocket,” Avenatti said. “If Stormy Daniels’s lips are moving, she’s lying for money.”
Daniels has since distanced herself from her former attorney, calling him a “lunatic” and a “scumbag.”
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“I was about to say that I also wish I’d never met him, but I’m actually glad because I’m the one that helped convict him so he couldn’t steal from even more unsuspecting clients,” the former adult film star said, per NYP.