N.Y. judge denies Trump's bid to delay hush money trial
Published Date: 4/3/2024
Source: axios.com

A Manhattan judge on Wednesday denied former President Trump's attempt to delay the start of his New York hush money trial, court records show.

Why it matters: The presumptive GOP presidential nominee had asked to delay the trial — set for April 15 — until the Supreme Court rules on his presidential immunity claims.


Zoom in: Judge Juan Merchan wrote in his Wednesday decision that Trump had "myriad opportunities to raise the claim of presidential immunity well before March 7, 2024."

  • "Defendant's motion is DENIED in its entirety as untimely," Merchan wrote.

Catch up quick: Trump and his legal team have repeatedly argued that he has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions performed within the "outer perimeter" of the president's official duties.

  • In March, Trump's legal team asked Merchan to postpone the hush money trial until after the Supreme Court decides on the immunity claim.
  • The nation's highest court is set to hear oral arguments for the case on April 25.

Between the lines: Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in a Manhattan criminal court related to alleged hush money payments made in 2016.

  • He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has denied any wrongdoing.

Zoom out: The New York case — the first of his four criminal cases to go to trial — is possibly the only one to see a decision before the 2024 presidential race.

  • It is considered the weakest of the indictments against him.

Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment Wednesday.