A New York appeals court judge has denied former President Donald Trump’s third attempt to delay his hush money criminal trial, scheduled to start jury selection in less than a week. Trump’s legal team sought postponement while fighting a gag order and contesting the trial judge’s decisions. The rejection marks Trump’s third consecutive failure in seeking delays.
Trump’s lawyers argued that his campaign efforts should take precedence over his courtroom defense, emphasizing the importance and unprecedented nature of the trial. However, Justice Ellen Gesmer ruled against Trump, paving the way for jury selection to proceed as scheduled.
The trial concerns allegations of falsifying records to conceal payments to Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who facilitated hush money payments, including to porn actor Stormy Daniels. Trump maintains his innocence, claiming the payments were legitimate legal expenses.
Trump’s legal team also challenged the trial judge’s refusal to postpone the case until the Supreme Court rules on an immunity claim raised in another criminal case. The judge deemed the request untimely, emphasizing the extensive opportunities Trump’s lawyers had to address the issue earlier.
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Despite Trump’s arguments and repeated attempts to delay proceedings, the appellate chief for the Manhattan district attorney’s office stressed the public interest in ensuring the trial’s continuation without further disruption.
Trump’s legal team also contested the trial judge’s protocol for managing court filings and a gag order imposed on Trump, alleging violations of First Amendment rights. Additionally, they sought the judge’s recusal, citing bias and conflicts of interest.
The rejection of Trump’s delay request sets the stage for the hush money trial, the first of four criminal indictments against him, and potentially the first criminal trial of a former president.
