The New York judge overseeing Donald Trump's hush money criminal case has rejected the former US president's request to delay Monday's scheduled trial. Trump had argued that the extensive pre-trial publicity surrounding the case would make it unfair.
In his decision on Friday, Justice Juan Merchan stated that granting an indefinite delay was not feasible. He noted that Trump himself had contributed to the publicity surrounding his legal issues through relentless media posts attacking those involved.
Prosecutors opposed the delay, arguing that the publicity was unlikely to diminish and that Trump had courted media attention himself. They also expressed confidence in the jury selection process to find impartial jurors.
Trump's campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, stated that Trump and his legal team would continue to oppose the trial, referring to it as a "Biden Trial" and part of a "Witch Hunt."
The hush money case, brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, alleges that Trump orchestrated payments to porn star Stormy Daniels to silence her about an alleged extramarital encounter. Trump has denied the encounter and pleaded not guilty to charges of falsifying business records.
This trial could be Trump's only criminal proceeding before the November election, where he is expected to run against Democratic incumbent Joe Biden.
