A New York state judge has ruled against former President Donald Trump’s attempts to subpoena documents from NBC regarding the release of a documentary about adult film star Stormy Daniels. Judge Juan Merchan deemed the subpoena a “fishing expedition” and blocked Trump’s legal team from obtaining any information related to the documentary’s premiere date or payments made to Daniels for her participation in the project. The documentary, titled “Stormy,” follows Daniels’ legal battle with Trump over a hush money payment made by his former lawyer Michael Cohen.
Trump is facing trial later this month on charges of falsifying business records in connection with the hush money payment to Daniels, which was made to silence her about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. The former president has pleaded not guilty to all counts and has argued that his actions while in office are protected by presidential immunity, a claim that has been denied by Judge Merchan. Trump has also been scheduled for a deposition in a separate trial involving claims that he diluted shares of the Trump Media & Technology Group before it went public.
Despite the legal challenges he is facing, Trump’s net worth has seen significant fluctuations recently. Following the public trading of the Trump Media & Technology Group, his net worth reportedly climbed to an estimated $5 billion, making him the 625th richest person in the world. However, the stock price of the company has dropped since its initial public offering, leading to a decrease in Trump’s net worth by an estimated $476 million. The company’s market cap currently stands at around $5.6 billion, down from its initial valuation of $8 billion.
The timing of the release of NBC’s “Stormy” documentary has been a point of contention for Trump, who claims that it was strategically scheduled to coincide with his hush money trial in order to damage his reputation. However, NBC has denied any involvement by Daniels in the decision-making process for the documentary’s release date and content. The judge’s ruling to block the subpoena for NBC documents related to the documentary’s premiere date and payments to Daniels is seen as a setback for Trump’s legal strategy in the upcoming trial.
With the trial set to begin on April 15, Trump is facing a busy day with jury selection for the hush money case and a deposition in the Trump Media & Technology Group trial. The former president’s legal challenges, combined with the fluctuations in his net worth due to the performance of his company’s stock, highlight the ongoing legal and financial battles he is currently embroiled in. As the trials continue, the outcomes will likely have significant implications for Trump’s future legal and financial standing.
