Former President Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial is set to begin on April 15, despite Trump’s attempts to delay the proceedings based on pre-trial publicity. Judge Juan Merchan denied Trump’s request for a delay, citing the need for a thorough jury selection process to ensure a fair trial. Trump has attempted multiple times to delay the trial, including citing a recent documentary about Stormy Daniels, the porn star who received the hush money payment, as prejudicing the jury pool.
Prosecutors allege that Trump falsified business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to Daniels before the 2016 election, made by his former lawyer Michael Cohen. The payment was intended to silence Daniels, who claimed she had a sexual encounter with Trump. Trump later reimbursed Cohen for the payment, falsely labeling it as a payment for legal services. Trump has pleaded not guilty in the case.
In an effort to address concerns about pre-trial publicity, Merchan issued a partial gag order aimed at protecting jurors, witnesses, court staff, and prosecutors involved in the case. The judge expanded the order to include family members of those individuals, after Trump attacked Merchan’s daughter on social media. Despite Trump’s attempts to delay or derail the trial, it is scheduled to proceed on April 15 and could be the first of its kind against a former president.
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