For the third day in a row, a New York appeals court on Wednesday rejected a last-ditch effort by Donald Trump’s lawyers to delay the hush-money trial.
The case will be heard on Monday in the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president.
Trump’s lawyers argued during a brief emergency hearing in Manhattan on Wednesday afternoon that the trial should be postponed indefinitely while they work to oust presiding judge Juan Merchan and question several of his ruling.
Judge Ellen Geismer’s ruling is another loss for Trump, who has repeatedly tried to delay the trial. The decision means that the first of Trump’s four criminal trials will begin as scheduled, with jury selection beginning on April 15.
Trump has denied accusations that he falsified business records during his successful 2016 presidential campaign to hide the true nature of payments related to a plan to suppress damaging reports about him.
His lawyers argued that as the Republican presidential nominee, Trump should be on the campaign trail rather than “defending himself in court” as the 2024 election approaches and Joe Biden seeks re-election for the Democratic Party.
“We stopped here because there are some limitations that prevent us from operating in a constitutional manner in a trial setting,” Trump lawyer Emile Bove said during the hearing, which was held in the court’s basement hall because of routine The court is in use.
“This is an extremely important trial. This is a historic, unprecedented proceeding,” Boff said, adding: “It can only be done once, and it has to be done right.”
In addition to a string of complaints filed with appeals courts this week, Bove argued that Merchant “exceeded his authority” by refusing to delay the case until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on Trump’s immunity claim in a separate criminal case. Permissions”. Trump’s lawyers have argued that some evidence in the hush-money case could be excluded if the Supreme Court rules in his favor.
Merchant last week declared the request untimely, ruling that Trump’s lawyers made the request too late in the process.
Steven Wu, director of the Appellate Division in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, agreed, arguing Wednesday that Trump’s lawyers have months to argue immunity and Other issues should not be put off at the 11th hour.
“Suspending the trial at this time would be extremely damaging,” Wu said. “The court, the people, the witnesses have made extraordinary efforts to ensure that the trial can go ahead on Monday.”
“There is a strong public interest in ensuring that criminal trials continue,” he added.
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The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the immunity fight later this month.
Geismer presided over the emergency hearing from an armchair, in front of a pile of wooden chairs, a foldable table and a bathroom. She issued her ruling shortly after the hearing.
Documents related to Trump’s latest appeal have been sealed.
Trump is accused of falsifying business records. He denied having sex with Daniels. His lawyers argued that the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.
Trump has appealed twice to the appeals court this week. An appeals court judge on Monday rejected his bid to delay the trial while he seeks to move it out of Manhattan. On Tuesday, another judge denied a request as part of a lawsuit against Merchin to delay the trial while Trump fights a gag order that has been placed on him in recent weeks.
Trump is the defendant in four criminal cases.
Reporting by The Associated Press and Reuters
