First Criminal Trial Against Former President Donald Trump to Begin on March 25, Judge Rules
In a historic moment for the United States, the first criminal trial against a former president is set to begin on March 25. The trial will focus on the circumstances surrounding a payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has pursued this case against Donald Trump, charging him with 34 counts of falsification of business records. Trump, however, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.
The decision to proceed with the trial was made by Judge Juan Merchan, who denied Trump’s motion to dismiss the charges during a pretrial hearing. “At this point I can inform you that we’re moving ahead with jury selection on March 25,” he announced. The judge expects the trial to last approximately six weeks.
Before the hearing commenced, Trump spoke outside the courtroom and expressed his concerns about the case. He claimed that there was a “great double standard” at play and accused the Manhattan District Attorney of political motives. Trump also voiced his desire to delay the trial, stating that it was interfering with his campaign activities. “How can you run for election when you’re sitting in a courthouse in Manhattan all day long? I’m supposed to be in South Carolina right now,” he lamented.
During the hearing, Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, protested against the decision to proceed with the trial. Blanche argued that the compressed and expedited schedules in all of Trump’s trials placed an unfair burden on his legal team. However, Judge Merchan assured Blanche that Trump would not be involved in more than one criminal trial simultaneously. The judge had already discussed the timing of the trial with U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who will oversee Trump’s federal prosecution in Washington, D.C., if it moves forward.
As it became evident that the trial would not be delayed, Trump’s attorney and the prosecutor debated the questions that potential jurors would be asked. These questions primarily revolved around the news outlets they consumed and any affiliations they had with fringe groups. The prosecution acknowledged that several questions were taken from the jury selection process in a defamation trial against Trump brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. One particular question, “Do you believe that the 2020 election was stolen?” sparked a dispute between the attorneys. Blanche argued that the prosecution should inquire about jurors’ opinions of President Trump, while the prosecutor insisted on focusing on their ability to be fair and unbiased.
Trump’s legal troubles extend beyond this upcoming trial. He faces charges in three other criminal proceedings, including federal cases in Washington, D.C., and Florida, as well as a state case in Georgia. Despite his busy schedule, Trump chose to attend the hearing in New York instead of one in Georgia. The Georgia case involves allegations that District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade improperly used public funds while pursuing a romantic relationship. Both parties have admitted to the relationship but denied any financial conflict. The case accuses Trump and others of conspiring to undermine the 2020 election results in Georgia.
With March 25 quickly approaching, all eyes are on this groundbreaking trial against a former U.S. president. As the legal battle unfolds, it remains to be seen how these charges will impact Trump’s political future and reputation.
