Europe 1 with AFP // Photo credit: MIKE SEGAR / POOL / AFP 10:29 p.m., March 15, 2024, modified at 10:34 p.m., March 15, 2024
The criminal trial of former US President Donald Trump, for a case of hidden payments to an adult film actress, scheduled for March 25 in New York, is finally postponed by decision of a Manhattan judge.
“The trial in this matter is adjourned for 30 days from the date” of March 14.
The criminal trial of Donald Trump scheduled for March 25 in New York in a case of hidden payments to an adult film actress is postponed, a Manhattan judge decided on Friday.
“The trial on this case is adjourned for 30 days from the date” of March 14, on which the Manhattan prosecutor gave the green light for the proceedings to be postponed for a month, ruled the judge of the court of New York Juan Merchan.
A new respite for the Republican candidate
Which means that this historic trial - for which Donald Trump in principle faces a prison sentence - could begin in mid-April.
The New York State Supreme Criminal Court will meet in a preliminary hearing on March 25 to decide on a new date, according to Judge Merchan's decision.
Thursday evening, the New York State Prosecutor's Office for the Manhattan jurisdiction led by prosecutor Alvin Bragg declared itself open to a 30-day postponement of the trial, after a request for a postponement from the defense.
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This offers a new respite to the Republican candidate for the US presidential election in November, whose lawyers are seeking to delay as much as possible the opening of the four criminal trials in which their client is being prosecuted.
In a court document dated Thursday, the Manhattan prosecutor's office said it was "ready for a trial on March 25" as planned, but without "opposing a postponement of up to 30 days to allow the defense to examine " new documents added to the procedure.