The trial of former President Donald Trump, led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, has faced restrictions placed by the judge overseeing the case. Bragg’s allegations involve Trump violating the Federal Election Campaign Act by not publicly reporting a payment made to Stormy Daniels. The judge, Juan Merchan, who has been noted as a financial supporter of Trump’s opponent, has limited the testimony of a key witness for the defense, former FEC Chairman Bradley Smith. Smith’s expertise in campaign finance laws could have shed light on the case, but Merchan has restricted his testimony to only general aspects of his job. This decision has been seen as a hindrance to Trump’s legal defense and has been criticized as biased towards Democrats. The limitations imposed by Merchan have been viewed as unnecessary obstacles that prevent Trump from returning to the 2024 campaign trail.
