Trump to stand trial in criminal court on March 25 in hush money case
Al Jazeera
Former US president is charged with falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to adult performer Stormy Daniels.
A New York judge has denied former United States President Donald Trump’s request to dismiss criminal charges in connection with claims that he paid hush money to adult performer Stormy Daniels.
Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination and likely opponent of President Joe Biden in the November election, asked Judge Juan Manuel Merchan to throw out a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records to cover up the $130,000 payment to Daniels before the 2016 election, which Trump won.
But Merchan said on Thursday that the trial will proceed with jury selection on March 25 despite Trump’s pleas.
He said he made the decision after speaking with the judge in Trump’s now-delayed federal election interference case in Washington.
Trump, who entered the courthouse ahead of the hearing, repeated his claims that the case was politically motivated.
