Trump’s hush-money trial will start on March 25, as planned, after Judge Juan Manuel Merchan denied the delay bid submitted by the former president’s legal team.
Time, date, and the jury
Based on the latest hearing, the trial will last around six weeks, with the jury selection beginning on March 25. The trial under Judge Merchan is the first criminal trial to take place against Trump, following several civil cases, which all started in 2023.
This was Trump’s first indictment
The trial in New York involves the circumstances regarding payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016, before the election. A grand jury voted to indict Trump on March 30, 2023, marking the first of four criminal indictments against the former president.
Moving ahead
The Judge denied Trump’s motion to dismiss the charges at the beginning of the hearing and told the court, “At this point, I can inform you that we’re moving ahead with jury selection on March 25.” Trump was present at the hearing and will likely be present during the whole trial unless exceptional circumstances arise.
Virtual appearance
The New York Judge said that Trump could appear virtually to attend other proceedings, though it is not clear if that’s a general rule or just a one-time thing with Trump’s Georgia case developments.
Trump in front of the courtroom
Trump complained to the reports in front of the courtroom, saying it was “election interference” and adding, “We want delays. Obviously, I’m running for election.” Trump continued, “How can you run for election when you’re sitting in a courthouse in Manhattan all day long? I’m supposed to be in South Carolina right now.”
Trump complained some more
The former president also told reporters, “There was no crime here at all. This is just a way of hurting me in the election because I’m leading by a lot.” He continued, “They want to rush it because they want to get it desperately before the election.… They wouldn’t have brought this—no way—except for the fact that I’m running for president and doing well.”
Trump’s attorney was not pleased
Todd Blanche, who is one of Trump’s lawyers in this case, called the Judge’s decision a “grave injustice” and told Judge Merchan, “We have been faced with compressed and expedited schedules in every one of those trials,” adding, “We — meaning myself, the firm and President Trump — have been put into an impossible position.”
Merchan was clear
Judge Merchan reminded Trump’s lawyer, “You don’t have a trial date in Georgia. You don’t have a trial date in Florida.” Trump’s case in D.C. is currently on pause over immunity claims. Special counsel Jack Smith urged SCOTUS, writing that the “public interest in a prompt trial is at its zenith where, as here, a former president is charged with conspiring to subvert the electoral process so that he could remain in office.”
Inside the indictment
Trump is accused of 34 counts of participating in a conspiracy to falsify business records to hide payments to his former “fixer” and lawyer, Michael Cohen. Cohen predicted that his former boss would be convicted on “all charges.”
Cohen will testify
The former lawyer told CNN’s Erin Burnett that he believed the case to be “very simple.” However, he was subpoenaed, and that’s obviously not “fun,” said Cohen, adding that these testimonies “get personal, they get nasty.”
“Al Capone theory”
Cohen said at The New Republic’s Stop Trump Summit in October, “This is the Al Capone theory,” and elaborated, “Hey didn’t get him on murder, extortion, racketeering, prostitution, etc., they got him on tax evasion.”
Daniels is ready
In mid-January, the adult actress said on her podcast, “Obviously, things have been next-level crazy since I am set to testify in, at this point in time, March.” She added she was ready, though her lawyer later added, “I have no clue as to their timing, strategy, and whether they will call her as a witness.”
Read Next: What Really Causes Donald Trump’s Skin to be So Orange
Former President Donald Trump’s distinctive orange skin has captivated attention, sparking curiosity about its evolution from average pale over the years:
What Really Causes Donald Trump’s Skin to be So Orange
21 of the Biggest Lies in American History
Dive into the shadows of American history as we explore 21 of its biggest lies that have left an indelible mark on the nation’s narrative:
21 of the Biggest Lies in American History
32 Things We Once Highly Respected but Are a Complete Joke Now
Discover the amusing downfall of once-respected entities in our changing world:
32 Things We Once Highly Respected but Are a Complete Joke Now
23 of Donald Trump’s Most Hilarious Moments as President
Explore the lighter side of Donald Trump’s presidency with 23 hilariously memorable moments that left the nation in stitches:
23 of Donald Trump’s Most Hilarious Moments as President
27 Things MAGA Movement Ruined Forever for People
How the MAGA movement left its mark on individuals and disrupted certain aspects of our everyday life forever:
