The judge in Donald Trump's hush money lawsuit set the trial for April 15 on Monday. Judge Juan Merchan ruled after the former president's counsel requested a significant delay or the dismissal of the fabricating business records allegations against their client due to federal prosecutors' recent discovery of evidence.
Merchan found Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office “is not at fault for the late production of documents from the U.S. Attorney’s office” and could try the case next month.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche then requested another postponement from the judge due to pre-trial publicity. “There's a lot of news because he's running for president, which is another reason he shouldn't be tried now,” Blanche added. Merchan said he'd let Blanche file his case papers but wouldn't budge. "See you all on the 15th," he concluded the hearing.
Trump attended the hearing and called the revised trial date "election interference" later. "This is a case that could have been brought three and a half years ago," he said, calling the trial date "a disgrace." "Obviously, we'll appeal," he said.
The former president also looked sad entering court. This is witch hunt. A hoax, he claimed. Merchan delayed the trial, initially slated for Monday, until at least mid-April after federal prosecutors belatedly turned over heaps of evidence connected to crucial witness Michael Cohen.
Merchan slammed Trump's team for blaming the DA for federal prosecutors' late evidence production. The court said, “You are literally accusing the Manhattan DA's office and the people assigned to this case of prosecutorial misconduct” when they had no influence over federal prosecutors.
He added that Trump's lawyers could have requested the information earlier. Merchan remarked, “It’s odd that we’re even here, and that we’ve taken this time,” before calling a 45-minute break.
Trump left the courtroom agitated before Merchan's verdict. Bragg, who charged the former president with falsifying business records last year, supported a 30-day postponement in response to Trump's request to review federal prosecutors' Michael Cohen prosecution documents.
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