The trial concerning former President Donald Trump’s hush money case in New York has been postponed by 30 days following the introduction of new evidence, aligning with Trump’s broader strategy to delay his criminal trials. Originally set to commence with jury selection on March 25, Judge Juan Merchan approved the delay after receiving consent from the prosecutors. This adjustment was made necessary by the recent turnover of over 70,000 pages of records by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, some of which are pertinent to the trial.
Judge Merchan has scheduled a hearing on the original trial start date, March 25, to discuss the new documents and scheduling, leaving the door open for setting a new trial date based on the outcomes of a forthcoming motion hearing. Despite the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s readiness for trial, they agreed to the postponement for cautionary reasons. Trump’s legal team, however, argues that a delay beyond late April is warranted due to the substantial new evidence.
There’s been contention between Trump’s lawyers and District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office over the handling and origin of the new documents, with accusations of responsibility for the delay being exchanged. The final batch of documents is expected to be produced by federal prosecutors soon, with the upcoming court session set to address the timing and impact of these document turnovers.
This case is among several legal challenges Trump faces, including a significant Supreme Court review regarding immunity claims in an election interference case, which also affects other related trials. In addition to seeking a broader pause based on immunity arguments, Trump has also accused prosecutors of discovery violations in the hush money case, suggesting possible sanctions against them. The focus of the next hearing will remain narrow, concentrating on the immediate issue of the trial delay.
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