A New York State appellate judge has rejected Donald Trump’s request to delay his upcoming criminal trial, scheduled for April 15, regarding charges related to hush money paid to an Adult star.
The former U.S. president also sought to relocate the trial outside of Manhattan.
Associate Justice Lizbeth Gonzalez swiftly denied Trump’s motion following a brief thirty-minute session at the Appellate Division in Manhattan, a critical state appeals court.
During the hearing, Trump’s attorney, Emil Bove, argued for a stay on the proceedings pending a decision on moving the trial outside Manhattan, a request stemming from charges filed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in April 2023.
Steven Wu, representing Bragg’s office, countered Trump’s arguments by stating that Trump’s delay in objecting to the Manhattan trial location is unjustified, given his previous residence in the area.
Trump, who is challenging President Joe Biden in the upcoming U.S. election, has entered a not-guilty plea to 34 counts of business records.
Bove did not specify an alternative trial location preferred by Trump’s legal team. However, he cited a survey by Trump’s team indicating significant bias against Trump among Manhattan residents. According to the study, 61% of respondents believed Trump was guilty, and 70% held an unfavourable opinion of him.
Bove expressed concerns about conducting fair jury selection in a county with such strong biases. He argued that potential prejudice could compromise a fair trial.
In response, Wu emphasized that the jury selection process could effectively filter out biased jurors and dismissed Trump’s claims that media attention warranted moving the trial.
Wu pointed out that Trump’s own actions have contributed to the extensive media coverage surrounding the case, thus negating his argument for relocation based on publicity concerns.
If the trial proceeds as scheduled, it would mark the first criminal trial involving a former U.S. president, adding significant weight and public interest to the legal proceedings.
