For the third day in a row, a New York appeals court rejected an attempt by Donald Trump's lawyers to delay the criminal trial against the former president for altering payment records to cover up compromising information.
Trump's lawyers had argued that the trial should be postponed indefinitely as they fight to remove the judge, Juan M. Merchan, and challenge several of his rulings.
Judge Ellen Gesmer's decision represents a new defeat for Trump, who has repeatedly tried to postpone the trial. The ruling means the first of four criminal trials against Trump will begin as scheduled on April 15.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges that he falsified company records to conceal the true nature of payments made in connection with a scheme to conceal damaging stories about him during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Protection for witnesses in case of confidential documents
Separately, a federal judge decided Tuesday to allow the special counsel prosecuting former President Donald Trump for alleged mishandling of classified documents to preserve for now the identities of potential witnesses in the case.
Federal Judge Aileen Cannon agreed to reconsider an earlier ruling that prosecutors said would have revealed the names of certain witnesses who spoke to investigators, subjecting them to intimidation and harassment by Trump and his supporters.
Lawyers for Trump, the Republican presidential contender against Democrat Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 election, attached witness information to a legal filing in January seeking information they said would help Trump's defense. .
Cannon, who was appointed to the judge by Trump, initially agreed to make the information public, citing the need for public access to court records.
[Con información de AP y Reuters]
Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channels Youtube, WhatsApp and to newsletter. Turn on notifications and follow us on Facebook, x and instagram.
