NEW YORK: A New York judge rejected Donald Trump’s attempt to throw out the Stormy Daniels case for hush-money and scheduled a trial for March 25, the Daily Mail reported.
The 77-year-old, who is set to become the first former president to face criminal charges, is accused of paying an adult film star $130,000 to cover up his alleged affair before the 2016 election.
In a courtroom event, Judge Juan Merchan rejected Trump’s bid to dismiss the case, opening the way for the former president to go on trial over allegations that he paid Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet.
Trump, visibly displeased, scowled at the packed courtroom but remained defiant, saying it was “no case” and criticizing New York for prioritizing him over issues such as violent crime and incidents related to migrants.
As Trump entered the courthouse, surrounded by law enforcement, he expressed his frustration, cited interference from his opponents and expressed a desire to delay the trial, citing his potential re-election bid.
Trump emphasized his love for the city and state, but argued that they should focus on pressing issues such as rising violent crime and incidents related to migrants, instead of continuing what he called “made up crimes.”
The March 25 trial date was set over the objections of Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, who argued that it would be a “gross injustice” given the former president’s involvement in numerous cases across multiple jurisdictions. Unmoved, Judge Merchan pushed forward and coordinated with Judge Tanya Chutkan, who oversaw the trial in Washington on January 6.
Amid heightened security in and around the courthouse, Trump faces three other criminal charges, including allegations of election meddling and mishandling classified documents.
The embezzlement case, with allegations of falsifying business records, centers on a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels and implicates Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen.
While the outcome of the case is uncertain, it marks a historic moment as the first criminal trial of a former US president. As the trial unfolds, the public is anticipating potential revelations from Daniels and scrutinizing Trump’s defence to the charges, which hinges on a new legal theory.
The courtroom drama is intensifying amid other legal battles, including allegations of prosecutorial misconduct in Atlanta and allegations of trying to overturn election results in Georgia and Washington. Trump maintains his innocence in all cases.
