Donald Trump’s criminal trial on charges that the former president falsified business records will begin in March, the presiding judge said Tuesday.
Acting Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan announced the March 25 trial date during a brief hearing on the case, during which the Republican presidential candidate appeared virtually Tuesday in Manhattan Criminal Court.
Trump, who was in Florida, appeared via two large video screens in the 15th-floor courtroom. Flanked by American flags, Trump sat with his hands folded at the table next to his attorney Todd Blanche . Trump, wearing a blue suit and red tie with blue and white stripes, replied, “Yes, I have,” when asked by the judge if he had received a copy of the protective order in the case.
Earlier this month, Merchan issued a protective order on evidence provided by prosecutors to the defense, barring Trump from sharing any of the evidence with the media or anyone else, including posting evidence on social media. social.
Trump pleaded not guilty last month to 34 counts of falsifying business records related to alleged hush money payments made to former adviser Michael Cohen. Prosecutors allege Trump made the payments to Cohen to cover up an affair.
Prosecutors had asked Merchan to issue the protective order, arguing that Trump’s “long history” of attacking witnesses and others involved in legal proceedings against him had created a “considerable security risk.”
Trump’s lawyers argued against the protective order, calling it an “extraordinarily broad muzzle” that would essentially be a gag order on a presidential candidate.
In approving the protective order, Merchan said he recognized Trump’s status as a former president and current candidate and that Trump would still be able to speak generally about the case.
Trump’s lawyers have sought to have the criminal case moved to federal court, arguing that the case should be tried in federal court because Trump was president when the alleged crimes took place. That application is still pending, although legal experts have said it is unlikely to succeed.
Donald Trump’s criminal trial on charges that the former president falsified business records will begin in March, the presiding judge said Tuesday.
Acting Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan announced the March 25 trial date during a brief hearing on the case, during which the Republican presidential candidate appeared virtually Tuesday in Manhattan Criminal Court.
Trump, who was in Florida, appeared via two large video screens in the 15th-floor courtroom. Flanked by American flags, Trump sat with his hands folded at the table next to his attorney Todd Blanche . Trump, wearing a blue suit and red tie with blue and white stripes, replied, “Yes, I have,” when asked by the judge if he had received a copy of the protective order in the case.
Earlier this month, Merchan issued a protective order on evidence provided by prosecutors to the defense, barring Trump from sharing any of the evidence with the media or anyone else, including posting evidence on social media. social.
Trump pleaded not guilty last month to 34 counts of falsifying business records related to alleged hush money payments made to former adviser Michael Cohen. Prosecutors allege Trump made the payments to Cohen to cover up an affair.
Prosecutors had asked Merchan to issue the protective order, arguing that Trump’s “long history” of attacking witnesses and others involved in legal proceedings against him had created a “considerable security risk.”
Trump’s lawyers argued against the protective order, calling it an “extraordinarily broad muzzle” that would essentially be a gag order on a presidential candidate.
In approving the protective order, Merchan said he recognized Trump’s status as a former president and current candidate and that Trump would still be able to speak generally about the case.
Trump’s lawyers have sought to have the criminal case moved to federal court, arguing that the case should be tried in federal court because Trump was president when the alleged crimes took place. That application is still pending, although legal experts have said it is unlikely to succeed.
