In a recent move to derail the forthcoming hush-money trial involving former President Donald Trump, his Republican legal team lodged a brief petition accusing Judge Juan Merchan of exceeding his jurisdictional boundaries.
The petition, submitted on Wednesday, aimed to contest Merchan’s prohibition on Trump from asserting absolute immunity at trial. Additionally, the lawyers disputed Merchan’s decision not to recuse himself due to his daughter’s employment as a Democratic political consultant. However, by Wednesday evening, their attempt to postpone the trial had been dismissed.
Trump’s attorneys sought to indefinitely postpone jury selection, slated to commence on April 15, as they contested Merchan’s rulings. Hours after its submission, an appellate judge, Ellen Gesmer, swiftly rebuffed the arguments put forth by Trump’s team, according to The New York Times.
Trump (Credits: NBC News)
Merchan had previously determined that Trump failed to timely invoke the claim of presidential immunity, stating that Trump had ample opportunities to raise the issue prior to March 7, 2024. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments later this month regarding Trump’s contention that, as a former president, he is immune from prosecution.
The trial in Manhattan revolves around allegations that Trump falsified business records to conceal $130,000 in hush-money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who alleges that Trump engaged in sexual activity with her. The trial, set to commence on Monday, poses a threat to Trump’s political aspirations by resurrecting a scandalous narrative and potentially culminating in a guilty verdict leading to imprisonment.
Trump’s legal team has consistently sought to postpone the hush-money trial since the indictment was issued in March 2023. Their recent efforts to delay the proceedings, including challenges to a gag order and a request to relocate the trial, have been met with denials from the court. Trump’s reluctance to face trial, particularly ahead of the November election, is evident in his legal team’s persistent attempts to delay the proceedings.
