Former President Donald Trump is currently on trial in Manhattan for 34 felony counts related to hush money payments made during his presidency. One of the claims Trump has made regarding the trial is that Judge Juan Merchan blocked him from bringing in an election expert to testify. However, this claim is not true according to multiple sources including CNN's Kaitlan Collins who was present in the courtroom and reported on the matter.
Collins stated that Trump's attorneys chose not to call the election expert due to concerns about a potential 'battle of experts.' Merchan did allow the expert, Bradley A. Smith, to testify about general background information and definitions but refused to allow him to interpret or opine on whether Trump's actions violated federal election laws.
Trump could have testified in his own defense but opted not to do so. The closing arguments in the trial are scheduled following Memorial Day weekend, after which the jury will begin deliberations. The outcome of these deliberations will determine whether Trump is found guilty or not guilty of the charges against him.
It's important to note that Merchan has a reputation for being impartial and unbiased in his rulings. He was appointed to the bench by former President Bill Clinton and has a long history of experience in the legal field. The trial is expected to make history as it could result in Trump becoming a convicted felon if found guilty.
The defense rested its case on Tuesday, with closing arguments scheduled for after Memorial Day weekend. Both parties have now received the jury instructions which outline what they should consider when making their decision. It's unclear at this time whether Trump will be taken into custody immediately if he is convicted, but that is a possibility.
In conclusion, Judge Merchan did not bar campaign finance expert Bradley A. Smith from testifying for the defense in Trump's hush money trial as claimed by the former president. The decision to not call Smith was made by Trump's legal team due to concerns about a potential 'battle of experts.'
