Judge Juan Merchan has rejected a motion from former President Donald Trump’s attorneys to delay his criminal hush money trial in New York, which is set to begin on Monday. The motion was denied due to excessive pretrial publicity, with Merchan stating that an indefinite adjournment is not tenable and that Trump is partially responsible for the situation he finds himself in. This ruling is the latest in a series of decisions rejecting Trump’s attempts to stop his first criminal trial.
Trump is facing 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made before the 2016 election to an adult film star who alleged an affair a decade earlier. Trump has pleaded not guilty to these charges and has denied the affair. Jury selection for the trial is set to begin on Monday, despite Trump’s attorneys’ attempts to delay the proceedings.
In addition to the motion to delay the trial, Trump’s attorneys have also raised concerns about the jury selection process just days before the trial is scheduled to start. They argue that the judge’s plan for handling jury selection would not create a sufficient record for any necessary appellate review or venue-change motion. They are asking the judge to distinguish between jurors who claim they cannot be fair and those who are unable to serve for other reasons.
Trump’s legal team further argues that the jury questionnaire lacks a question to identify potential jurors who align with rival political parties and may harbor biases that could impact the trial. They are requesting additional questions to explore any affiliations that could lead to disqualifying biases. The judge has not yet ruled on this request, leaving the potential for further arguments regarding the selection process.
The latest developments in Trump’s criminal trial come as he continues to face legal challenges and scrutiny related to his time in office. Despite the ongoing efforts of his legal team to delay or alter the trial proceedings, Merchan’s rulings have consistently affirmed the scheduled start date for jury selection and trial. As the trial begins, all parties involved will need to navigate the complexities of a highly publicized case with potential implications for the former president.
The rejection of Trump’s motion to delay the trial and the ongoing discussions around jury selection highlight the contentious nature of the legal proceedings and the complex issues at play in this case. With jury selection set to begin on Monday, the focus will now shift to the process of selecting a fair and impartial jury, as both the prosecution and defense prepare to present their cases in what is expected to be a high-profile and closely watched trial. Trump’s legal team will continue to advocate for changes to the selection process, while Merchan considers their arguments and the impact they may have on the trial’s fairness and integrity.
As the trial date approaches and preparations are made for jury selection to commence, the legal teams for both Trump and the prosecution will need to carefully navigate the complexities of the case. With Trump facing multiple charges related to hush money payments and falsified business records, the trial is expected to be a highly publicized and closely watched legal proceeding. The decisions made by Merchan in response to Trump’s legal team’s requests will play a crucial role in determining the fairness and integrity of the trial, as both sides seek to present their cases and secure a favorable outcome.
