Attorney Stephen Wu of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office argued: in court that tuesday There was no particular basis for delaying the trial. Legitimate The reason is related to a gag order recently imposed by New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Marchan.
“This is a pattern of misconduct that has predictable and dire consequences, and this order is intended to correct it,” Wu said, adding that Trump’s accusatory comments have caused a stir among his supporters. It was pointed out that the court officials were threatening and harassing court officials.
Mr. Trump’s lawyer, Emile Bove, told Mr. Khan that Mr. Trump should have the right to discuss adult films with two key witnesses in the case, his former lawyer Michael Cohen. Actress Stormy Daniels — Because they will publicly argue the merits of this issue on social media and in public.
Bove said there were no safety concerns because the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office “has not asserted that President Trump’s comments rise to the level of incitement.”
He also said Marchand’s gag order has impaired Trump’s “ability to speak publicly and respond to ongoing verbal attacks” from Cohen and Daniels.
President Trump on Monday filed a civil lawsuit in the Court of Appeals against Marchan over a gag order he recently issued ahead of the trial.
A New York state appeals court judge on Monday rejected Mr. Trump’s attempt to delay his hush money trial, scheduled to begin on April 15, but did not allow Mr. An appeal is underway to determine whether a change of location is necessary. .
President Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with a $130,000 payment he made to Daniels shortly before the 2016 election. Prosecutors say the payments were intended to keep her quiet about what she claims was sexual contact with President Trump years ago.
Prosecutors say Mr. Trump’s reimbursement to Mr. Cohen, who made the payment to Mr. Daniels, was illegally recorded as legal expenses even though it was intended to support Mr. Trump’s campaign. . Mr. Trump has maintained his innocence.
Cohen pleaded guilty in federal court to campaign finance violations in 2018. The plea related to payments to Daniels that were allegedly made at Trump’s direction. Mr. Trump was never indicted by federal prosecutors, and Mr. Cohen went to prison on charges including campaign finance violations in his efforts to muzzle Mr. Daniels.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said Trump intentionally concealed the reimbursement to Mr. Cohen to avoid reporting the payments to Mr. and Mrs. Daniels in required campaign finance disclosures.
Trump, who is expected to be the Republican presidential nominee in this year’s election, has repeatedly made negative comments about Marchand’s adult daughter, who is professionally connected to Democratic campaigns. Marchan imposed a limited gag order on March 26, barring Trump from speaking publicly with various parties to the case, including court officials, witnesses, some prosecutors and their families.
The original order did not prohibit comments about Mr. Bragg, Mr. Marchand or their families, but it was later expanded to include protection for relatives of district attorneys and judges.
In his order, Marchan wrote that Trump has a “pattern of attacks on family members of trial jurists and attorneys” and that these attacks are not part of his legitimate efforts to defend himself in public. I wrote.
