Former President Donald Trump’s hush money case is moving forward as scheduled, as a New York judge denied his third request to delay the trial. Trump’s legal team had argued for a pause in the proceedings while they fought for the judge to recuse himself, claiming the trial needed to be done correctly. However, the request was quickly denied by Associate Justice Ellen Gesmer. This decision means that Trump’s first criminal trial is expected to begin on Monday.
This trial marks the first criminal trial of a former president, with Trump facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Manhattan prosecutors allege that Trump misidentified payments made to his attorney Michael Cohen as legal fees when they were actually reimbursements for hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied any sexual encounter with Daniels. The trial is expected to last about six weeks and could have significant implications for Trump’s future.
Trump’s legal team has made multiple attempts to delay the trial, including a request to move it out of New York and an appeal of a gag order imposed by the judge. However, all of these attempts have been denied, with the judge emphasizing the importance of moving forward with the trial as scheduled. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has expressed readiness for the trial, noting the extensive efforts made to ensure it can proceed on time.
The denial of Trump’s request for a delay has been met with mixed reactions, with prosecutors arguing that further delays would be disruptive to the trial process. The trial is set to begin with jury selection on Monday, barring any last-minute efforts by Trump and his legal team to halt the proceedings. This high-profile case has attracted significant attention and is expected to be closely watched by the public and legal experts alike for its potential impact on Trump’s legal troubles.
Overall, the denial of Trump’s request for a delay sets the stage for a highly anticipated trial that could have far-reaching consequences. As the first criminal trial of a former president, the case has drawn attention for its potential impact on Trump’s presidency and political future. With the trial set to begin on Monday, all eyes will be on the courtroom as the legal proceedings unfold over the coming weeks.
