Former President Donald Trump is set to go to trial on March 25 in New York on charges related to his alleged role in a hush money scandal before the 2016 election after a judge on Thursday denied his motions to dismiss.
Judge Juan M. Merchan denied Trump’s motions to dismiss and said jury selection in the trial will begin March 25. Trump pleaded not guilty in April 2023 to all 34 state felony charges connected to the alleged payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal.
Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, argued that the former president’s legal team has been focused on preparing for his federal trial in D.C. that it did not have time to prepare for the state trial. However, Judge Merchan cut Blanche off noting that his prior request for a conference already included the same information.
Blanche raised concerns about jurors’ impartiality towards Trump and expressed his plan to ask for a change of venue from Manhattan, where Trump won about 12% of the vote in the 2020 presidential election.
Prosecutors, on the other hand, are considering adding questions about which news outlets potential jurors follow, such as the Alex Jones show and the Ben Shapiro show, in an attempt to better understand their political leanings.
Coincidentally, on the same day as Trump’s court appearance in New York, a judge in Georgia will hold a hearing to determine whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be disqualified due to allegations of benefiting financially from her romantic relationship with the prosecutor she appointed in the case.
The trial in New York marks a significant legal battle for the former President, as he faces charges related to the alleged hush money payments made prior to the 2016 election. The trial’s outcome will have implications for Trump’s future legal standing and potentially impact his political trajectory. Stay tuned for more updates as the trial approaches.
