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A New York appeals court has denied the Former United state president, Donald Trump’s bid to put his hush money trial on pause while he argues the case should be tried outside of Manhattan.
The decision followed arguments at an emergency hearing where Trump’s lawyers contended deep-blue Manhattan is not an appropriate venue for the controversial Republican former president’s criminal case to be heard. Judge Lizbeth González heard the arguments.
Instead, the former president’s lawyers suggested the trial take place on Staten Island — the only New York City borough Trump won in 2016 and 2020.
In the meantime, Trump’s trial — scheduled to begin with jury selection April 15 — should be paused, the lawyers argued. It’s slated to be his first criminal trial and the first criminal trial of any former U.S. president.
Trump’s lawyers asked González to issue an emergency stay, which would have postponed the trial indefinitely. She declined to do so.
The hush money trial has already faced delays due to a last-minute document dump.
Lawyers with the Manhattan district attorney’s office pointed to Judge Juan Merchan’s previous ruling that Trump’s motion to change venues was untimely.
They also blamed Trump for any pretrial prejudice for making “countless media appearances talking about the facts of this case, the witnesses, and so on,” according to The Associated Press.
Trump’s lawyers are expected to return to the New York appeals court at a later date for arguments over their last-ditch effort to pause the trial while they appeal a gag order imposed by the trial judge.
AFP
