Donald Trump continued his social media tirade against the judge and circumstances of his New York hush money trial, which completed jury selection and is set to begin opening arguments. Trump accused the trial of being a “witch hunt” happening in a predominantly Democrat area and criticized the judge, calling him possibly the most conflicted judge in judicial history who should be removed immediately. Trump’s attorneys had requested to delay the trial to find a new location, alleging bias among New York City residents, but their request was swiftly rejected by a Manhattan appeals court. Despite several attempts by Trump to postpone the trial, Judge Juan Merchan confirmed that opening arguments would proceed as planned on Monday morning.
The trial involves 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. Trump’s social media attacks against Judge Merchan and others involved in the trial, in violation of a gag order imposed in March, have become a regular occurrence. Trump has targeted the judge’s daughter, who works for a progressive political consulting firm, and has demanded the judge’s recusal. Prosecutors have requested the judge to penalize Trump for violating the gag order, specifically citing three social media posts targeting witnesses like Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen. They have asked for a $1,000 sanction for each post and warned Trump of potential jail time for future violations. Judge Merchan has scheduled a hearing on the prosecutors’ request for Wednesday.
Trump’s repeated efforts to delay the trial and his ongoing attacks against the judge and witnesses have added tension to the high-profile case. The trial, being the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president, has garnered significant attention. Despite the numerous delays and challenges, Judge Merchan remains committed to moving forward with opening arguments on Monday. The prosecutors’ request for penalties against Trump for violating the gag order highlights the seriousness of the situation. The judge’s decision to address the request in a hearing on Wednesday indicates that he is taking the issue seriously and intends to enforce the rules of the trial. The trial’s outcome will have far-reaching implications, not only for Trump but also for the legal system and the precedent it sets for future cases involving high-profile individuals.
