Judge Denies Trump’s Delay Request for Hush-Money Trial

(LibertySons.org) – Former President Donald Trump suffered another major legal setback after a judge denied his request to delay the MAGA leader’s hush-money trial. The GOP presidential front-runner had asked the judge to hold proceedings until the Supreme Court ruled on other claims that he was protected against all criminal prosecution under presidential immunity. With the delay rejected, the trial remains set to begin on April 15.

Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan wrote in his ruling that the timing of the request made him question the “sincerity and actual purpose” behind it. Trump’s lawyers filed the document on March 7, long after the deadline to introduce new pretrial motions closed. Merchan also noted that the former president’s legal team had “myriad opportunities” before last month to raise the possible immunity defense.

The Supreme Court plans to begin arguments on the immunity case on April 25. Trump and Special Counsel Jack Smith will each have a little less than three weeks to file their arguments. Trump must first provide the opening brief, and Smith’s filing will come in response to the defendant’s claims. Ultimately, the justices will decide whether Trump has privileged immunity against any potentially criminal acts he committed during his tenure as president of the United States.

Trump tried to argue that Judge Merchan should hold off on any judgments against him until the Supreme Court decided whether he could be criminally charged. The former president faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in New York.

Smith’s team claims Trump tried to cover up hush-money payments by using his lawyer, who paid off several people holding information the MAGA leader wanted to keep away from the public. Court documents allege that payments went to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal to keep them quiet about a relationship they had with a very married Trump, which would have outed his alleged indiscretions ahead of the 2016 elections as an adulterer.

~Here’s to Our Liberty!