Former President Donald Trump’s defense team was unsuccessful in their attempt to delay the start of his trial in the New York hush money case related to Stormy Daniels. Despite their efforts, the judge set a date for the jury selection to begin on April 15. The defense had requested more time to review the 170,000 pages of documents provided to them, but the judge was not convinced of the necessity for further delay. Throughout the hearing, Trump appeared frustrated and visibly upset, referring to the case as a “witch hunt” and “a hoax.”
Trump was required to attend the trial every day, and his frustration was evident as he listened to the arguments presented in court. Judge Juan Merchan questioned Trump’s attorneys about their timing in raising concerns about the discovery documents and ultimately ruled that there was no valid reason for further delay. Despite Trump’s attorney arguing for more time to review the documents, the judge stood firm on the trial date. As a result, Trump will have to face trial in just under three weeks.
Throughout the hearing, there were various interactions that drew attention to the historic nature of the case. Secret Service agents were present to watch over the former president, adding to the intense atmosphere in the courtroom. Trump interacted with a group of women seated in the back row, mouthing “thank you” as he left for the day. There were also confrontations between the judge, Trump’s lawyers, and prosecutors, with vigorous arguments on both sides regarding the number of documents to review and the timing of the trial.
Despite the challenges faced in the hush money case, Trump scored a victory in a separate civil fraud case when a state appeals court ruled in his favor. The judgment in the case was reduced from $464 million to $175 million, allowing Trump and his co-defendants to post a lower bond. This decision also postponed any potential seizure of Trump’s assets by Attorney General Letitia James. While the fraud case outcome was positive for Trump, the hush money trial continues to present challenges that he must address in the weeks ahead. Overall, the legal battles Trump faces are ongoing, with each case posing unique obstacles and potential consequences for the former president.
