Trump's Bid to Delay Trial Rejected by New York Judge

Thursday 04 April 2024 - 11:00

A New York judge has dismissed former President Donald Trump's request to postpone his upcoming criminal trial until after the Supreme Court rules on his claim of presidential immunity. Trump had argued that the trial should be delayed until the Supreme Court rules on the scope of presidential immunity in a separate case dealing with federal election interference charges. However, Judge Juan Merchan ruled that Trump had raised the argument too late, with the trial scheduled to begin on April 15.

The criminal trial, initiated by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, stems from charges of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, facilitated the payment, allegedly to silence Daniels about a sexual encounter she claims to have had with Trump. Prosecutors assert that Trump reimbursed Cohen through falsified business records at the Trump Organization, violating federal election laws.

Trump's defense team argued that delaying the trial until after the Supreme Court ruling would reduce the risk of a retrial if the court found that presidential immunity applied. However, Judge Merchan deemed Trump's motion untimely, highlighting that Trump had previously been aware of the presidential immunity defense but chose not to raise it until late in the legal proceedings.

The judge's decision means that Trump is set to face his first criminal trial this month, despite his efforts to postpone or disrupt trial dates in other cases. The rejection of Trump's bid for delay underscores the legal challenges he faces as he navigates multiple criminal investigations and lawsuits.

While Trump's legal team sought to exclude certain evidence based on presidential immunity, Judge Merchan declined to consider those arguments due to the untimeliness of Trump's motion. The judge's ruling emphasizes the importance of adhering to procedural timelines in legal proceedings and reinforces the notion that legal strategies must be pursued diligently and in a timely manner.

As Trump prepares to confront his first criminal trial, the outcome will not only impact his legal fate but also carry broader implications for the interpretation of presidential immunity and the accountability of public officials.