In a historic precedent for the United States, a judge in New York has scheduled a trial date for the former President Donald Trump in a case involving payments made to silence an adult film actress. The trial is set to commence on March 25th, 2024, coinciding with the selection of jury members.
The decision to set March 25th as the trial date was announced by Judge Juan Merchan, who dismissed calls from Trump’s legal team to postpone the trial, citing interference with the elections. Trump, who vehemently opposes the timing of the trial, has labeled the allegations against him as a means of political sabotage.
Meanwhile, representatives of Trump attended a separate session in Atlanta, urging for the removal of the prosecutor accusing Trump of election fraud and extortion from the case. This legal battle is one of four criminal cases Trump faces, with implications for his potential nomination as the Republican Party’s presidential candidate.
Trump, upon his arrival at the courthouse, denounced the charges against him, claiming they were orchestrated to undermine his candidacy. He expressed concerns over the trial’s impact on his ability to campaign effectively, questioning the feasibility of running for elections while defending himself in court.
The former president faces a total of 34 charges related to financial transactions involving payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Prosecutors allege that Trump unlawfully concealed monetary transfers to his lawyer and aide, Michael Cohen, to facilitate payments for nondisclosure agreements regarding alleged extramarital affairs with Daniels and a Playboy model.