Donald Trump has made a last attempt at a Manhattan court to defer his hush money trial, pending a Supreme Court decision on a “presidential immunity” claim in a separate case.
The New York trial, set for March 25, revolves around accusations of Trump paying hush money to silence a porn star about an affair in 2016, with crucial evidence stemming from his actions after the election.
Trump’s attorneys, Todd Blanche and Susan Necheles have asked Justice Juan Merchan to postpone the trial, highlighting the potential impact of evidence from Trump’s time in office, including actions in 2018 aimed at Michael Cohen, his former lawyer.
They argue that Trump’s presidential tweets and actions should be shielded by immunity, suggesting that the lack of such protection could expose future presidents to prosecutorial threats from political adversaries.
Trump has consistently claimed presidential immunity in his four criminal cases, ranging from charges related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia to alleged mishandling of classified documents.
Despite Trump’s legal manoeuvring, experts doubt the success of his immunity claims but note he has previously managed to delay his federal election case.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on the issue on April 25, with a decision expected by June.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, led by Alvin Bragg and tasked with prosecuting Trump, has yet to respond to the trial delay request. Special counsel Jack Smith has criticized Trump’s immunity argument as lacking merit, suggesting it’s a tactic for postponement.
