Defense lawyer Todd Blanche argued that his team needed more time to prepare and that the trial would unfairly interfere with the former president's efforts to return to the White House. He also noted that President Trump is scheduled to go on trial in Florida in late May on charges of illegally storing classified documents and obstructing government efforts to retrieve them. But the judge in the case suggested the proceedings could be delayed to give lawyers more time to consider confidential evidence.
“We are facing a very compressed, fast-paced schedule for every trial,” Blanche said.
In response, Marchand told Blanche, who is representing Trump in several lawsuits, that he “did so at his peril” in accepting the lawsuit and related work requests.
When Blanche tries to argue further, Martian says, “Stop interrupting me. …I have been trying to work with you.”
Discussion in the courtroom will soon turn to jury selection, ensuring potential jurors make fair decisions in a trial that is historically unprecedented and where the defendant is a deeply polarizing public figure. included what questions to ask.
There's still a possibility that the New York case will take a backseat to a separate federal lawsuit against Trump on charges of conspiracy to interfere with the results of the 2020 election. But those charges, filed in Washington, have been on hold for months in an appellate battle over President Trump's claims of presidential immunity. Although one appeals court ruled unanimously against Trump, Trump may still try to take his case to the U.S. Supreme Court, with the trial likely to take weeks or months more. It may be withheld for a long time.
Marchan said during Thursday's hearing that he has consulted with U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, the trial judge in Washington, D.C., and that after consulting with her, he “intends to proceed with jury selection on March 25.” said.
The charges in the New York business records case relate to allegations that Trump misclassified refunds to former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Mr. Cohen paid adult film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with Mr. Trump years earlier. (Cohen pleaded guilty in the case and served a 15-month prison sentence, including home confinement.)
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg accused Mr. Trump of repaying the hush money to Mr. Cohen under the guise of legal fees, when in reality the hush money was paid for by Mr. Trump's wild suspicions about the presidential race. It was an election expense to ensure that it would not be tainted.
President Trump has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records, but New York state charges him with intent to defraud, including intent to “commit, aid and abet, or conceal another crime.” It is a serious crime. In announcing his charges, Mr. Bragg said the purpose of Mr. Trump's scheme was to cover up violations of New York election law and that collusion to illegally promote his candidate would be a crime. Bragg also said the $130,000 payment exceeded federal campaign finance limits.
Trump has pleaded not guilty and has complained that these charges and three others he faces are a politically motivated effort to derail his bid for the White House. In addition to charges in New York, Florida and Washington, he also faces state charges in Georgia for conspiring with others to thwart the state's 2020 voting results.
The former president has denied all wrongdoing.
In the New York courtroom, the former president was an attentive but quiet presence during the hearing, which began shortly after 9:30 a.m. and ended shortly after 11 a.m. Sitting in the defense bench, the former president spoke with his lawyers nearby. I often had short whispered conversations, and sometimes with Blanche. But he did not raise his voice or interrupt, in contrast to his more combative approach in a civil trial in New York last month.
After the hearing, Trump told reporters outside the courthouse that he would campaign in the evening to coincide with his criminal trial, which will probably last until May. He called the trial “a very unfair situation.”
“I can't campaign as hard because they want me to be nice and busy, but maybe we don't have to campaign as hard because the other side is incompetent,” Trump said. said. “I'm going to be sitting here for months on end for a trial. I think it's ridiculous and it's unfair.”
Trump has a wide lead among Republican presidential candidates, and a conviction would not prevent him from running or holding office. Each case could have different potential outcomes for Mr. Trump.
For example, a conviction in the New York case may or may not result in a prison sentence. But that would be a conviction that even if President Trump were elected, it could not be removed or expunged because it was a state case, not a federal one.
During Thursday morning's hearing, both parties said potential jurors could be asked whether they are members of fringe political groups such as the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers or Antifa. The defense also said some potential jurors had political bumper stickers on their cars, even though all candidates are from Manhattan and many live without cars or front lawns. They also want to ask if anyone has posted political signs or posted them in their yards.
Another question: Have you read the book by Mr. Cohen, a key witness in the case, or former prosecutor Mark Pomerantz, who wrote about his time investigating Mr. Trump at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office? That may be the case. Pomerantz's book became the subject of major controversy after Bragg decided not to pursue criminal charges based on allegations of fraudulent business practices at the Trump Organization. In response, Pomerantz and another veteran prosecutor resigned.
Prosecutors and Mr. Trump's defense team disagreed over how much to pressure prospective jurors about past political donations. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass argued that one of the questions proposed to jurors — whether he had ever contributed to a campaign or political action committee — was too broad.
Blanche said that given the nature of the allegations against Trump (whether the hush money payments amounted to campaign expenses involving past and current presidential candidates), the issue cannot be ignored in jury deliberations. said. The court also said it could not walk away from the fact that “persons who provided funds” may have been unfairly biased for or against Trump in 2016, 2020 or 2024, Blanche said. he said.
Mr Machan expressed concern that such questioning could go too far.
“If you're going to attack everyone, Democrats and Republicans, you're going to quickly run out of challenges to potential jurors,” he said.
As the hearing drew to a close, Mr. Blanche again tried to persuade Mr. Marchand to change his mind about the trial in late March. “We firmly protest what is happening in this court,” he said.
“President Trump will spend the next two months working on this case instead of campaigning,” Blanche said, adding, “This should not happen in this country.”
During the hearing, Marchan becomes increasingly irritated with Blanche, urging her to get down to business.
“What is your legal claim?” the judge asked.
“That is my legal argument,” Blanche argued.
“That's not a legal argument,” the judge said as he concluded the hearing.
As Blanche left, the people at the back of the room applauded. It's unclear whether the applause was in response to Blanche's remarks or related to something else.
“Quiet in the bleachers!” said a court official.
This development story has been updated.
Marianne Levine in Washington contributed to this report.
