CNN legal analyst Karen Friedman Agnifilo discussed the possible prosecution strategy in the ongoing Donald Trump hush money trial, indicating that prosecutors are preparing to call Stormy Daniels as a witness. Recent courtroom maneuvers suggest the trial could see high-profile testimony in the Manhattan courtroom presided over by Judge Juan Merchan.
During CNN’s “Trump Hush Money Trial” coverage, Agnifilo spoke with anchor Kaitlan Collins and CNN Chief Legal Analyst Paula Reid. Agnifilo noted that in asking Judge Merchan to allow certain types of questions, prosecutors are providing clues about their intention to call Daniels to the stand.
As the trial develops, Judge Merchan is seeking clarification from the prosecution about their objectives for presenting particular evidence. Agnifilo explained that this inquiry suggests a broader prosecution strategy, including questioning Stormy Daniels. Although the witness list has not been made public, prosecutors may use Daniels’ testimony to strengthen their case against Trump.
The legal analysts discussed the significance of calling Daniels as a witness, given her central role in the case’s narrative. Prosecutors aim to prove that witnesses such as Daniels are not testifying for personal gain, as Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche has implied, referencing Michael Cohen’s podcast and Daniels’ participation in a documentary. They may also address why some witnesses initially denied certain facts or details. Additionally, prosecutors seek to demonstrate Trump’s “consciousness of guilt,” suggesting that his behavior and attempts to cover up alleged misconduct could indicate knowledge of wrongdoing.
KAITLAN COLLINS: And the judge is basically saying, well, if that door’s been open, we’ll talk about it when these witnesses are on the stand themselves. He is now asking the prosecution to explain their aims for presenting the evidence.
KAREN FRIEDMAN AGNIFILO: Yeah. So they’re trying, he’s trying to find out what’s your purpose? What is what is your intention here? And what are you trying to do with this type of evidence?
Interestingly, what this also tells me is clearly we knew that Michael Cohen is going to be called as a witness. But this also, I think, shows that they are planning on calling Stormy Daniels to the witness stand. And I think that’s significant because it was unclear that they haven’t given their witness list, but it was also unclear.
Would they call Stormy Daniels? Would they call Dino Sajudin the doorman? Would they call Karen McDougal? They don’t need to call these witnesses. I suspect they’re not going to call the doorman or Karen McDougal. But this, this exchange is telling me that prosecutors are gearing up for Stormy Daniels to testify.
KAITLAN COLLINS: Well, and basically what prosecutors are saying is that they want to argue that these witnesses are not here to benefit from it, because obviously, that was something that Todd Blanche previewed, mentioning that documentary, mentioning Michael Cohen in his podcast.
They’re saying that they benefited from this. They want to be able to talk to the witnesses and say that they haven’t benefited the second they say it is to explain why both witnesses initially denied certain facts. Michael Cohen’s testimony to Congress, what Stormy Daniels has said in those public statements. And they say the third is to show Trump’s consciousness of guilt.
