A New York appeals judge has denied Donald Trump's third attempt this week to delay his April 15 criminal trial on charges related to hush money paid to a porn star, marking a significant development in the legal proceedings against the former US president.
Trump's lawyer argued during an earlier hearing that the trial should be postponed because Justice Juan Merchan, overseeing the case, has yet to rule on their request for him to recuse himself. Additionally, they contended that prosecutors should be barred from presenting Trump's tweets during his presidency as evidence, citing presidential immunity.
However, the appeals judge rejected these arguments, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the trial proceeds as scheduled. Trump faces charges of falsifying business records in connection with a $130,000 payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels by his former lawyer Michael Cohen.
Despite Trump's plea of not guilty and denial of any encounter with Daniels, the trial is set to move forward. Merchan has yet to rule on the motion for him to recuse himself, with Trump's defense team raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to the judge's daughter's professional affiliations.
In addition to this case, Trump faces three other criminal indictments related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and his handling of government documents post-presidency. These legal challenges come as he prepares for a potential rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden in the 2024 US election.
