A judge in New York on Thursday confirmed that Donald Trump is set to be tried in March concerning the Stormy Daniels scandal.
Historic Moment
This decision marks a historic moment, making Trump the first ex-president to undergo a criminal trial.
Appearance Before Jury
This trial is the first among several legal battles Trump will navigate in an election year, ensuring he will likely appear before a jury before the next Election Day.
Cases Against Trump
Trump faces additional indictments in Georgia, Florida, and Washington, D.C., with charges ranging from election interference to mishandling classified documents, though the timelines for these cases remain undetermined.
Dismiss Attempt Rejected
During a courtroom appearance in New York City, Justice Juan Manuel Merchan dismissed attempts by Trump’s legal team to have the case thrown out, citing complaints of “total election interference.”
Jury Selection Date
Merchan ordered the trial to proceed, with jury selection set for March 25, asserting that Trump’s legal challenges did not hold merit.
Immunity Claim
The case, originally scheduled for trial on March 4, has been effectively put on hold pending the outcome of Trump’s appeal, which raises the legally untested question of whether a former president is immune from prosecution for actions taken while in office.
“I’m Glad”
Merchan noted that despite the defense lawyer’s urgings to postpone the trial months ago, he had resisted.
He stated, “In hindsight, frankly, I’m glad that I took that position, because here we are and the D.C. case did not go forward.”
Anticipated Time Frame
Merchan mentioned that the hush-money trial is anticipated to span six weeks.
Super Tuesday Primaries
If the New York case proceeds as planned, it will commence shortly after the Super Tuesday primaries, coinciding with a crucial phase in the political calendar as Trump aims to solidify his position in the Republican race and position himself as the likely nominee in the upcoming presidential contest.
Legal Team Efforts
His legal team referenced this timeline when urging the judge to reconsider the trial date in March.
Trial Instead Campaign
Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, expressed strong opposition to the proceedings in the courtroom, emphasizing the concern that President Trump will have to devote the next two months to the trial rather than campaigning for re-election.
Least Challanging Case
The New York case has often been regarded as the least legally challenging among the four indictments filed against Trump last year.
Less Severe Accusations
The alleged misconduct, widely known to the public for years, is viewed by many as less severe than accusations of mishandling classified documents or attempting to undermine a presidential election.
Charges Unveiled
The case against Trump involves 34 counts of falsifying business records, connected to efforts in 2016 to conceal an alleged affair with Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress, by arranging a payment to prevent the story from reaching the public.
Ready to Testify
Adult film actress Stormy Daniels, also known as Stephanie Clifford, in January confirmed her intention to testify in Donald Trump’s trial regarding allegations of paying her “hush money” during the 2016 election campaign.
“Next-level Crazy”
“Obviously, things have been next-level crazy, since I am set to testify in, at this point in time, March,” she said on her podcast.
Hush Money
The adult film actress asserts that she received $130,000 to remain silent about her affair with Trump while his wife, Melania, was pregnant with their son Barron.
“Trump-Hating Judge”
Throughout the past year, Trump has criticized Merchan as a “Trump-hating judge,” requested his recusal from the case, and attempted to transfer the case from state court to federal court, all without success.
Judge Admit Donation
Merchan has admitted to making modest donations to Democrats, including $15 to Trump’s opponent Biden, but has affirmed his confidence in his “ability to be fair and impartial.”
Finance Law Breached
Although Trump denies the affair, the prosecution, led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, argues that the payment breached campaign finance laws. These criminal charges could lead to imprisonment.
First Time Offender
However, given Trump’s status as a first-time offender and the non-violent nature of the alleged crime, incarceration might be unlikely.
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