Judge Juan Merchan in New York rejected former President Donald Trump’s request to delay his trial until after the U.S. Supreme Court rules on his claim of presidential immunity. The trial is related to a “hush money” payment made to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Merchan denied the request, stating that Trump had multiple opportunities to raise the issue earlier and that the timing of the request raised questions about its sincerity.
Trump is facing 34 felony counts of falsification of business records in connection to payments made by his then-attorney Michael Cohen to Daniels. Trump denies the affair and all wrongdoing, pleading not guilty to the charges. The trial was initially set for March 25 but was delayed due to a dispute over documents provided by prosecutors. Trump’s team sought further delays or a dismissal of the case, accusing prosecutors of misconduct for not providing documents sooner.
In addition to the New York trial, Trump is also facing legal challenges in Florida and Washington, D.C. A trial date has not been finalized in Florida for mishandling classified documents after leaving office, while his trial in Washington, D.C., for allegedly plotting to overturn the 2020 election has been put on hold pending the Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity. Trump is also charged in Georgia for election interference.
Despite the legal challenges, Trump continues to run for the White House, defending himself in multiple criminal cases. The Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity could have significant implications for his legal battles. Judge Merchan’s denial of Trump’s request to delay the trial in New York highlights the importance of timely legal proceedings and raises questions about the motives behind the request.
Overall, Trump’s legal troubles continue to unfold as he faces multiple criminal cases across different states. The timing of his request to delay the trial in New York has been deemed untimely by the judge overseeing the case. As Trump navigates these legal challenges while also running for office, the outcomes of these cases and the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity will have significant implications for his future.
