"Judge Allows Testimony on Trump's Hush-Money Case and Election Influence"

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan has shaped the upcoming criminal trial of former President Donald Trump by ruling on what evidence and topics may be presented to the jury. The judge has emphasized that the trial is mostly about an alleged attempt to influence an election, while also considering the relevance of sexual misconduct allegations. The judge has allowed testimony about the "Access Hollywood" tape but has barred the actual footage from being shown to the jury, and is still deliberating on whether to allow testimony about multiple women who accused Trump of sexual assault.