In a decisive move, Judge Juan Merchan has scheduled the commencement of the former president’s criminal hush-money trial in New York for April 15. This decision marks a significant milestone in the legal proceedings against Donald Trump, whose first criminal trial is now set to unfold next month. This ruling follows an agreement by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to postpone the original March 25 start date, allowing time for the review of new documents received from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Judge Merchan firmly dismissed Trump’s recent attempt to further delay the trial, sharply criticizing his legal team for levying unfounded accusations of misconduct against Bragg. “You are literally accusing the Manhattan DA’s office and the people assigned to this case of prosecutorial misconduct and trying to make me complicit in it,” Merchan stated, highlighting the baselessness of the allegations.
Trump expressed strong dissatisfaction with Merchan’s ruling, framing it as a blatant act of voter intimidation and election interference. “They decide to wait until now, just during the election, so that I won’t be able to campaign. I will be appealing this,” he declared outside the hearing, signaling his intent to challenge the decision.
Although the ruling appears to be nearly final, Merchan has permitted Trump to submit a motion to argue for a trial delay due to pretrial publicity. Bragg’s office has been given a week to respond. Notably, the office pointed out on Monday that the pretrial publicity in question has been “caused and exacerbated by the defendant,” according to CNN. Consequently, the trial is almost certain to proceed next month.
Bragg previously indicted Trump last March on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records, concerning a payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election to silence her regarding an alleged affair. Trump has since faced three additional criminal indictments — two from the Justice Department and one in Georgia by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. However, the Manhattan case is poised to be the only one going to trial before the 2024 election.
Trump has consistently condemned his legal challenges as part of a Democratic conspiracy aimed at thwarting his potential return to the White House. He reiterated claims of election interference while addressing the media outside the hearing on Monday. “I don’t know how you can have a trial that is going on right in the middle of an election,” he lamented, criticizing Merchan’s political affiliations and alleging a concerted effort to undermine him.
“We’ll bring crime back to law and order,” Trump confidently added, signaling his unwavering resolve in the face of legal adversity.