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Update on Delay in Trump’s ‘Hush Money’ Trial
Judge Juan Merchan has made the decision to postpone the trial regarding former President Donald Trump’s involvement in ‘hush money’ payments. Originally set to commence on March 25, the trial is now rescheduled to mid-April. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg submitted a request for a delay of up to 30 days in New York City.
The primary reason cited by the judge for this delay pertains to concerns surrounding the discovery process. Trump’s legal team specifically requested a 90-day extension to allow sufficient time for the review of extensive evidence recently disclosed by the Justice Department.
ABC News Report
ABC News reported that Judge Merchan has adjourned the trial for 30 days, pushing the new trial date to mid-April. A hearing is scheduled for March 25 to address the discovery challenges. The judge emphasized the necessity to resolve significant factual questions before determining whether the Manhattan district attorney fulfilled its obligations regarding evidence disclosure.
Alvin Bragg indicted Trump last April on 34 felony counts related to the ‘hush payments’ directed towards Stormy Daniels. The allegations involved Trump, through his attorney Michael Cohen, orchestrating payments to silence Daniels and prevent the dissemination of details regarding their alleged affair.
It should be noted that the funds provided to Stormy Daniels were not sourced from Trump’s presidential campaign; they were reflected in internal business records without associated tax deductions or filings with the Federal Election Commission. Trump, represented by attorney Joe Tacopina, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Each payment to Cohen, Trump’s former attorney, in connection with the ‘hush payments’ was scrutinized by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, resulting in separate criminal charges allocated for each payment made during Trump’s presidency in 2017. Bragg’s office followed a repetitive pattern in charging Trump with 34 felonies without elaborating on the underlying offenses.
Despite the lack of clarity on the exact charges, Bragg justified his approach by asserting that he is not obligated to disclose the specific nature of the underlying felonies. This legal progression underscores the ongoing scrutiny and implications surrounding the ‘hush money’ case involving Donald Trump.
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