Bragg's office advised Merchan to start the trial on April 15 since only 300 of federal prosecutors' 170,000 papers may be relevant to Trump's criminal defense.After Trump's counsel requested more Manhattan U.S. Attorney materials in January, the documents were produced late. Merchan questioned Trump's lawyers why they hadn't informed him earlier, including last month.
Blanche informed the judge they didn't think the judge could do anything but regretted for not raising it sooner.Trump's lawyers blamed the district attorney's office for not obtaining the information sooner and requested Merchan to drop the allegations. The DA called Trump's counsel's claims a "red herring."
Merchan pressured Trump's lawyer to specify the amount of documents still under examination. Blanche denied the DA's claim that only 300 papers were pertinent, saying they're still reviewing Cohen's emails, bank data, and interview notes. "We got stuff a week ago. We're continuing going over them "Blanche replied as his client listened closely.
The judge stated before the break that he and Trump's counsel seemed to be understanding things differently, hinting at the ruling. Merchan said Trump's attorneys were portraying the DA's office as not acquiring information, when he saw them as going "above and beyond" what was needed.
Bragg claims Trump misrepresented corporate records relating to hush money payments he signed. Cohen alleged Trump ordered him to pay Stormy Daniels $130,000 before the 2016 election. Daniels claims she had an affair with Trump in 2006 after his marriage to Melania.
Trump denies having sex with Daniels and pleaded not guilty to hush money accusations. However, the former president admitted repaying Cohen, a key trial witness.
Merchan denied Trump's plea to ban Cohen and Daniels from testifying last week. Trump's lawyers claimed last month that Cohen and Daniels are "liars" and shouldn't testify.
Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to making covert payments to women who claimed to have had affairs with Trump, lying to Congress about the then-president's business contacts with Russia, and failing to declare millions of dollars in income.
Trump has until Monday to pay more than $450 million for bond in the New York civil fraud prosecution during the hush money hearing. During the recess, a state appeals court cut his bond to $175 million and given him 10 more days to post. Trump told reporters in the hall that the result proved the judge erred in making the original sentence. New York Attorney General Letitia James cannot collect on the judgment until the appeal is decided if he posts the sum.
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