A New York appeals court on Monday denied Trump’s bid to put his hush money trial on pause while he argues that the case should be tried outside of Manhattan.
The decision followed arguments at an emergency hearing Monday where Trump’s lawyers contended that deep blue Manhattan is not an appropriate venue for the controversial Republican president’s criminal case to be heard.
Instead, the former president’s lawyers suggested the trial take place in 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 on 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.
Lawyers with the Manhattan district attorney’s office pointed to Judge Juan Merchan’s ruling that Trump’s motion to change venues was untimely.
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.
Merchan barred Trump from attacking witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and the judge’s family, but did not preclude him from hurling insults at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) or the judge himself.
Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his ex-fixer made to a porn star to cover up an alleged affair ahead of the 2016 election. He has pleaded not guilty.
The Associated Press contributed.
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