Donald Trump, former President of the United States appeared Monday in a New York courthouse to request that criminal charges against him be dropped or that a trial be delayed. The case concerned alleged payments made to pornographic actor Stormy Daniels to conceal their relationship.
Trump addressed the media outside of the courthouse, saying:
“Thank you very much, everybody. This is a witch hunt. This is a hoax. Thank you.”
President Trump arrives at the New York courthouse saying, “This is a witch hunt. This is a hoax.”
It’s unAmerican that the Biden White House is colluding with New York Democrats to go after Biden’s leading opponent.
pic.twitter.com/dIg3z40Gf4— Charles R Downs (@TheCharlesDowns) March 25, 2024
The trial was originally set to begin Monday but has been postponed 30 days for Trump’s attorneys to review new evidence. Now they are seeking an additional delay of three months or dismissal of the case. The delay is due to the late release of thousands of pages of evidence regarding former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen’s 2018 conviction. Cohen allegedly paid Daniels $130,000 to keep her quiet about an alleged affair with Trump.
Cohen had previously pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the payments. Cohen also admitted to tax evasion and giving false information to Congress. He was sentenced to three years in prison at home.
Trump’s lawyers requested that the trial be delayed for at least three months if Judge Juan Merchan denied the dismissal request. They also requested sanctions against the prosecutors. Trump’s attorneys accuse Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of omitting certain documents that would have raised questions about Cohen’s credibility.
Trump denied all wrongdoing through his Truth Social platform. Trump said the case shouldn’t be heard. He faces a deadline for appeals on Monday about a $454,000,000 fraud judgment.
Trump wrote:
These cases are rigged, all orchestrated by the White House and DOJ to interfere with the election. The Engoron set number is fraudulent. It should be zero, as I did nothing wrong! The D.A. case, which I am attending today, should be dismissed. There is no crime. Our country is corrupt!
In filings last week, DA Bragg’s office requested the judge disregard “wild, false accusations” stating only a small fraction of documents obtained by a subpoena Bragg presented in January is relevant to the allegations brought against Trump.
The criminal case is just one part of Trump’s legal problems as he prepares for the 2024 election. Trump has also been involved in three other criminal cases, relating to his alleged attempt to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential elections and the handling of documents after he left office. Trump’s legal strategy is to file appeals and seek delays.
For instance, his legal team successfully pushed back the start date of his federal trial in Washington, D.C., related to the 2020 election, citing presidential immunity. The case is set for oral argument before the Supreme Court on April 25.
The Manhattan trial of Donald Trump is scheduled to begin on April 15th, pending Monday’s rulings.
