Judge Juan Merchan made it clear that he will not allow a trial within a trial as a Sandoval hearing commenced in the Manhattan courthouse. A Sandoval hearing is a standard procedure used by the court to determine whether past misconduct can be introduced in the current trial. This process helps in deciding the extent to which prosecutors can question a defendant if they choose to testify.
During the hearing, Trump's attorneys raised concerns about a previous $355 million civil fraud judgment against the former president. They debated whether the prosecution should be permitted to reference this judgment in the ongoing proceedings.
