Trump Hush Money Trial Set For Mar. 25
On Thursday, Judge Juan Merchan rejected former US Pres. Donald Trump's request to dismiss the case related to his alleged hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and confirmed jury selection will begin as scheduled March 25....
Facts
- On Thursday, Judge Juan Merchan rejected former US Pres. Donald Trump's request to dismiss the case related to his alleged hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and confirmed jury selection will begin as scheduled March 25.1
- Trump was present in the courtroom, where he reiterated claims that the charges are political attacks by Democrats. The former president and GOP frontrunner faces a 34-count indictment for allegedly falsifying business records to cover up a $130K payment to Daniels before the 2016 election.2
- Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche, argued that the imminent trial date violates the Constitution and hampers his legal team from preparing for three other criminal trials. He also claimed the trial would interfere in the election since it limits Trump’s ability to campaign during the presidential primary season.3
- This will be the first of Trump’s four criminal trials. Merchan assured Trump will not be asked to 'be in more than one criminal trial at once,' adding that this trial is expected to last six weeks.4
- Outside the courtroom, Trump criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat who launched the first criminal indictment against Trump last April, by lamenting New York City’s rising crime and alleging Bragg unevenly applies the law.5
- In addition to this case, Trump faces a trial regarding alleged taking of classified documents starting May 20, and looming trials for his election interference case in Washington, D.C., and Atlanta.6
Sources: 1CNBC, 2Al Jazeera, 3Guardian, 4CBS, 5FOX News and 6Associated Press.
Narratives
- Republican narrative, as provided by The Gateway Pundit. This sham case shouldn't be allowed to proceed. Even some liberals acknowledge that Bragg’s half-baked assertions that Trump violated campaign finance laws by making hush money payments are ridiculous, yet partisan judges will do anything to force Trump to be in the courtroom instead of campaigning.
- Democratic narrative, as provided by The New Republic. Trump's claim that a presidential candidate is shielded from criminal prosecution was weak at best, and it's shameful that any lawyer would've offered it. Thankfully, Merchan rejected this preposterous notion and now Trump will be treated like any other defendant.
