Trump Hush-Money Trial Set to Start March 25, New York Judge Rejects Dismissal Request – WSJ

Donald Trump s hush-money trial is set to begin on March 25, a New York judge ordered Thursday, making it the first of the four criminal cases the former president faces to be heard by a jury.

Justice Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the case, also denied Trump s bid to dismiss the 34 felony counts pending against him. Trump sat at the defense table flanked by his lawyers.

Sitting for a six-week trial in Manhattan complicates Trump s presidential bid and adds to his legal burdens, which include three other prosecutions and a civil fraud case that could put him on the hook to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties. A ruling on the civil matter, in which the New York attorney general alleged Trump inflated his wealth for financial gain, could come as soon as Friday.

Todd Blanche, a lawyer for Trump, told the judge that a trial amid campaign season was something that should never happen in this country. President Trump is going to now spend the next two months working on this trial instead of on the campaign trail running for president, Blanche said.

What s your legal argument at this point? asked Merchan. 

That is my legal argument, Blanche replied.

via www.wsj.com