Topline
Former President Donald Trump arrived in court Monday as New York state Judge Juan Merchan holds a hearing in his criminal case for “hush money” payments, which is expected to determine when the case will go to trial following a 30-day delay.
Former President Donald Trump arrives for a pre-trial hearing in criminal court on March 25 in New ... [+]
Key Facts
Trump entered the courtroom minutes before his hearing began at 10 a.m., only telling reporters, “This is a witch hunt, this is a hoax, thank you.”
The trial in the case, which concerns payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during Trump’s 2016 campaign, was initially scheduled to begin Monday, before Merchan delayed the trial for 30 days from his ruling in mid-March.
Prosecutors supported the delay given a last-minute influx of records that were sent over belatedly from federal prosecutors.
Monday’s hearing is expected to consider Trump’s motion to dismiss the case—and, if the judge doesn’t side with Trump and throw out the charges, determine when the new trial date will be.
The 30-day delay Merchan previously set would mean the trial would likely begin around April 15, while Trump’s lawyers have pushed for a lengthier 90-day delay, if the case isn’t thrown out altogether.
What To Watch For
Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the hush money case, which carry a maximum penalty of 136 years in prison or $170,000 in fines if he were convicted on every count. Legal experts say it’s unlikely Trump will be sentenced to prison as a first-time offender, however.
Tangent
The hush money hearing isn’t the only major legal issue Trump has to deal with in New York on Monday. The ex-president also faces a deadline Monday to post bond for more than $454 million in the civil fraud case against him and his company, or else risk the possibility that New York Attorney General Letitia James could enforce the judgment and seize Trump’s assets. The ex-president’s lawyers have previously claimed it’s “not possible” to secure an appeals bond for the full amount he owes and asked an appeals court to pause the judgment, but the court has not yet ruled on his request.
Key Background
Trump was indicted in March 2023 in the hush money case, marking the first of the four criminal indictments he now faces. The indictment, brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, concerns the $130,000 payment ex-Trump attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels to stop her from going public during the 2016 campaign with allegations she and Trump had an affair. Trump then allegedly reimbursed Cohen for the payment, which prosecutors allege was unlawfully paid back in installments that were disguised as legal fees. Trump’s initial request to delay the trial, which ultimately resulted in the 30-day delay after prosecutors agreed, is part of a broader strategy the ex-president has waged to delay the criminal cases against him from going to trial, as he’s aimed to push back his trials until after the November election. Assuming Merchan stays on track with only delaying the trial until April, the hush money case is so far the only trial that appears poised to definitely take place before the general election, as Trump’s other three cases have been plagued by lengthier delays.
Further Reading
