A New York judge has rejected Donald Trump’s plea to dismiss the Stormy Daniels hush-money case, setting a trial date of March 25, according to the Daily Mail.
The 77-year-old is about to become the first former president to face a criminal prosecution. He is accused of paying the adult film star $130,000 to conceal their alleged romance before the 2016 election.
In a courtroom spectacle, Judge Juan Merchan denied Trump’s request to dismiss the case, setting the door for the former president to face trial on accusations of paying Stormy Daniels for her silence.
Trump, looking upset, glared at the packed courtroom but remained defiant, stating there was “no case” and criticizing New York for prioritizing him over matters such as violent crime and migrant-related occurrences.
As he approached the courthouse, accompanied by law officers, Trump expressed his frustration, claiming meddling from his opponents and expressing a wish to postpone the trial, citing his future re-election attempt.
Trump emphasized his respect for the city and state, but suggested that they should prioritize pressing issues like as increased violent crime and migrant-related occurrences above what he called “made-up crimes.”
Todd Blanche, Trump’s lawyer, objected to the March 25 trial date, claiming it would be a ‘grave injustice’ given the ex-president’s involvement in various lawsuits across different jurisdictions. Judge Merchan, unmoved, pressed on, collaborating with Judge Tanya Chutkan, who was handling the January 6th trial in Washington.
Trump is facing three more criminal trials, including claims of election involvement and mishandling sensitive materials, among heightened security precautions inside and outside the courthouse.
The hush-money case, which includes claims of manipulating company documents, revolves around a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels and involves Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen.
While the outcome of the case is uncertain, it represents a watershed occasion as the first criminal trial for a former US president. As court processes continue, the public anticipates potential revelations from Daniels and scrutinizes Trump’s defense against charges based on a unique legal approach.
The trial drama escalates against the backdrop of other legal disputes, including charges of prosecutors’ wrongdoing in Atlanta and attempts to sway election results in Georgia and Washington.
