Donald Trump is “dreading” Karen McDougal’s witness testimony in his hush money case, an attorney has said.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, former federal prosecutor and vocal Trump critic Ron Filipkowski said testimony from the former Playboy model involved in the case would be the part of the high-profile trial the former president “fears the most.”
The hush money trial, which started on Monday, will determine whether Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election, falsified business records over payments to two women, former adult film star Stormy Daniels and McDougal, to keep alleged affairs between them secret before the 2016 election.
Prosecutors led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg allege the payments were part of a scheme to stop potentially damaging stories about the Republican from becoming public. Trump has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to all 34 charges against him in the case.
Photo by Jabin Botsford – Pool/Getty Images
McDougal previously alleged she had an affair with Trump in 2006, and said they never used condoms and that he once offered her money for sex. Trump has denied ever having an affair with McDougal.
In 2018, McDougal filed a lawsuit against American Media Inc. (AMI), the company that owns the National Enquirer, effectively freeing her from a non-discolure agreement.
It claims she was paid $150,000 by the National Enquirer for the exclusive rights detailing her alleged affair with Trump, but that the story never ran.
The fee was allegedly paid to McDougal as “hush money” to protect Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign. AMI denied the claim and say the story was dropped as they didn’t find her account of the alleged affair credible.
In 2021, the U.S. Federal Election Commission ruled AMI had violated election laws by paying McDougal because stopping a negative news story about Trump during his presidential campaign was tantamount to a campaign contribution. It was fined $187,000.
Filipkowski wrote: “Trump is absolutely DREADING the testimony of Karen McDougal in this trial. That is the part of this he fears the most.”
Trump is absolutely DREADING the testimony of Karen McDougal in this trial. That is the part of this he fears the most.
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 18, 2024
Newsweek contacted a representative for Trump by email to comment on this story.
Meanwhile, after three days of the trial, the full jury has been selected. Two of the panel are attorneys. Seven are men and five are women.
Opening statements in the trial could take place as early as Monday, according to Justice Juan Merchan, who is the judge overseeing the case.
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