The judge overseeing former President Donald Trump’s upcoming New York criminal trial rejected his request to postpone the start of the trial until after the US Supreme Court rules on Trump’s claim of presidential immunity. Judge Juan Merchan denied the request on Wednesday, deeming it untimely and pointing out that Trump’s legal team had ample time to raise the issue before March 7, 2024.
The order says. “After all, Defendant had already briefed the same issue in federal court and he was in possession of, and aware that, the People intended to offer the relevant evidence at trial that entire time. The circumstances, viewed as a whole, test this Court’s credulity.”
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The trial concerning the hush money payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to adult film star Stormy Daniels is set to commence with jury selection on April 15. Trump has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.
Previously, Merchan ruled that Trump’s legal team could raise objections if prosecutors present evidence during the trial that they argue is linked to presidential actions. However, Wednesday’s ruling did not delve further into this matter.
“The Court declines to consider whether the doctrine of presidential immunity precludes the introduction of evidence of purported official presidential acts in criminal proceeding,” the order says.
When Trump submitted the motion on March 7, the trial was initially scheduled to commence on March 25. However, a week later, the trial was postponed to mid-April due to a collection of documents provided by federal prosecutors.
