A New York judge overseeing Donald Trump‘s hush money criminal case has dismissed his request to delay the trial scheduled for Monday.
Trump argued that extensive pre-trial publicity would prejudice the proceedings and that finding an impartial jury in Manhattan, where he claimed bias against him, would be challenging. However, Justice Juan Merchan deemed an indefinite delay untenable.
Merchan pointed out that Trump himself had contributed significantly to the media coverage surrounding his legal issues, often through relentless social media posts blaming others.
Prosecutors opposed the delay, arguing that the publicity was unlikely to diminish and that granting Trump’s request would be rewarding his own sought-after media attention.
They expressed confidence in the ability to select a fair jury through thorough questioning of prospective jurors.
Trump, the expected Republican presidential candidate in a November election rematch against Democratic incumbent Joe Biden, remains embroiled in legal battles.
His campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, reiterated Trump’s commitment to fighting what he called the “Biden Trial” and other perceived “Witch Hunts.”
While three individual state appeals court judges rejected Trump’s arguments for a trial delay earlier in the week, a full panel will eventually review the issues.
Trump faces multiple criminal cases but has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The hush money case, brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, marks the first criminal trial involving a former U.S. president.
Prosecutors allege that Trump concealed payments to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election to silence her about an alleged extramarital encounter, charges Trump denies. His legal team maintains the payments were legitimate expenses.
