In a recent development surrounding former U.S. President Donald Trump's legal troubles, a judge has blocked Trump's subpoena to Comcast-owned NBCUniversal for materials relating to a documentary featuring porn star Stormy Daniels. Justice Juan Merchan, who is overseeing Trump's upcoming criminal trial, deemed Trump's claim that Daniels and NBC conspired to release the film close to the trial to be unsupported.

The documentary in question is connected to Trump's alleged cover-up of his former lawyer Michael Cohen's $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels to keep her silent about a sexual encounter she claims to have had with Trump in 2006, just before the 2016 election. Trump's trial, initially scheduled to commence on March 25, was delayed by three weeks after he alleged that the Manhattan District Attorney's office was withholding evidence related to Cohen.

In his order issued on Friday, Justice Merchan revealed that Trump had subpoenaed NBC on March 11, seeking documents pertaining to the premiere date of the documentary and any compensation provided to Daniels. However, NBC promptly requested the judge to block the subpoena on March 20, asserting that Daniels had no authority to influence the content or release timing of the documentary.

Trump's legal team as well as NBCUniversal have refrained from issuing any comments so far following the judge's order. It is important to note that Trump is facing three other criminal indictments, although no firm trial dates have been set for them. As a result, the hush money case in New York state court in Manhattan, where the documentary subpoena was filed, could potentially be the only trial to take place before Trump's anticipated rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden in the November 5 election.

As the legal battle ensues, the outcome of Trump's April 15 criminal trial remains uncertain. Justice Merchan's decision to block the subpoena in relation to the Stormy Daniels documentary showcases the complexities surrounding the case and highlights the significance of the upcoming trial in shedding light on the allegations made against the former president.