The judge in Donald Trump’s hush money criminal case denied the former president’s request to postpone his trial due to publicity surrounding the case. Trump’s lawyers argued that the jury pool was influenced by prejudicial news coverage, but the judge disagreed, stating that Trump had generated much of the publicity himself with public statements. Trump, however, announced that he planned to testify at the trial, calling it a “scam” and claiming he had no case.
In a court filing, Trump’s lawyers argued that potential jurors in Manhattan had been exposed to biased and unfair media coverage of the case, leading many to believe Trump is guilty. They blamed key prosecution witnesses Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels for driving negative coverage of Trump. Prosecutors countered that publicity was not likely to subside, and Trump’s own comments contributed to it. The trial is the first of Trump’s four criminal indictments to go to trial and would be the first criminal trial of a former president.
Trump’s lawyers appealed for delays on various grounds, including moving the trial to another location due to perceived prejudice in heavily Democratic Manhattan. They also accused the Manhattan DA’s office of unethical behavior in the prosecution of former Trump Organization finance chief Allen Weisselberg. The judge expressed concern over the serious allegations made by Trump’s lawyers without apparent basis in fact, particularly in relation to Weisselberg’s guilty plea and the allegations against Cohen.
Despite the series of delays denials, Trump reaffirmed his intention to testify in the trial and maintained his innocence. He criticized the fairness of the trial process and reiterated complaints about the judge. The defense’s argument that the jury pool was tainted by pretrial publicity was countered by prosecutors, who pointed out that Manhattan’s large population could yield impartial jurors through questioning. Trump faces charges of falsifying business records related to payments made to Cohen during his 2016 campaign.
The upcoming trial marks a significant legal battle for Trump, as it is the first of multiple criminal indictments to go before a jury. The case revolves around allegations that Trump manipulated his company’s records to conceal payments made to Cohen for the purpose of suppressing negative claims during his presidential campaign. With jury selection set to begin, Trump’s legal team continues to face hurdles in their efforts to delay or change the trial’s location. Despite these challenges, Trump remains steadfast in his determination to clear his name in what he perceives as an unjust legal battle.
