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Former President Donald Trump after the hearing in the hush money trial: three weeks' delay
Photo: Justin Lane / AFP
The upcoming criminal trial against Donald Trump in connection with hush money payments to a porn actress is now scheduled to begin on April 15th. From that day onwards - around three weeks later than originally planned - a jury should be selected, Judge Juan Merchan decided on Monday in New York, according to consistent US media reports. There has never been a criminal trial against a former president in US history.
In the case, Judge Juan Merchan had briefly postponed the start of the trial, originally scheduled for Monday, by 30 days in mid-March after the defense and prosecution had requested a delay. The public prosecutor's office had wanted more time to examine new evidence, but ultimately called for the trial to begin in mid-April.
Trump's lawyers had requested a postponement of at least 90 days. The ex-president relies on delaying tactics in his various legal disputes in order to postpone judgments until after the presidential election if possible.
Trump repeats “witch hunt” accusation
The 77-year-old Trump, who is seeking to be re-elected to the White House for the Republicans in November, took part in the hearing on Monday and once again described the proceedings as a "witch hunt" and a "hoax" on the way into the courtroom.
The case primarily revolves around a hush money payment of $130,000 to the porn actress Stormy Daniels - the money flowed in 2016 shortly before Trump was elected president. She had claimed that she had had sex with him. Trump denies an affair, but does not deny that money was flowed. Non-disclosure agreements between two parties are not illegal. However, Trump is accused of illegally recording the payments, trying to conceal them illegally and thereby trying to cover up other violations of the law. The ex-president has pleaded not guilty.
A total of four criminal trials are currently being prepared against Trump, including for attempted election fraud and taking secret government documents. In some cases, Trump and his lawyers have been able to successfully block or at least delay them. The hush money trial involves less serious allegations than the other cases, but experts say it is the trial that could possibly be completed first. Trump denies all allegations against him and sees himself as a victim of a politically motivated justice system.
mrc/dpa