A New York judge rejected former President Donald Trump’s request to postpone his criminal trial until after the Supreme Court rules on his claim of presidential immunity.
Trump’s argument, raised in a March filing, aimed to postpone his trial concerning falsified business records until a separate case regarding presidential immunity in federal election interference charges was resolved by the Supreme Court.
Hush Money Payment
Judge Juan Merchan dismissed Trump’s request, stating that he had ample opportunities to raise the claim of presidential immunity before the March 7, 2024, filing deadline. With the trial scheduled to commence on April 15, Trump faces the prospect of his first criminal trial this month.
Trump’s legal team, led by attorney Todd Blanche, refrained from commenting on the judge’s decision. The New York case revolves around allegations that Trump falsified business records to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment made by his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to adult film actress Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 presidential election.
Prosecutors argue that Trump orchestrated the payment to prevent Daniels from disclosing a sexual encounter she claims to have had with him, thereby violating campaign finance laws. They assert that Trump disguised reimbursements to Cohen as legal payments through false business records at the Trump Organization.
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Merchan Rejects Trump’s Immunity Claim
Despite Trump’s efforts to delay proceedings, Merchan cited his delayed invocation of the presidential immunity defense and questioned the sincerity of his motion, particularly given its timing just days before the initially scheduled trial date.
Moreover, Merchan declined to address Trump’s request to exclude evidence based on presidential immunity, emphasizing the timeliness issue.
Trump’s argument, claiming protection for social media posts and other actions deemed official acts during his presidency, did not sway the judge’s decision.
As Trump’s trial approaches, the legal battle underscores the complexity of navigating presidential immunity claims and the challenges faced by both prosecutors and defense attorneys in pursuing justice amidst political intricacies.
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