The New York judge, who must organize the future historic criminal trial against Donald Trump, who has been accused of fraud since April, on Thursday asked the prosecutor and the defense of the former American president to agree on a date between February and March 2024.
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This procedural hearing by Judge Juan Merchan, held at the Manhattan Courthouse, means a trial would be held by the time of the Republican Party’s November 2024 presidential primary, for which Mr. Trump is leading the polls for the conservative camp.
Once the date is set, all parties, including the former President of the United States, cannot plan otherwise, the New York State judge for Manhattan jurisdiction urged.
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During a personal appearance in Manhattan on April 4, Donald Trump was charged with 34 counts of tax fraud related to payments to cover up embarrassing matters ahead of the 2016 presidential election, including a sexual relationship with film actress X Stormy Daniels, which he has always denied.
Such a criminal charge is unprecedented for a President of the United States.
But Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case has been labeled by attorneys and politicians as both legally “minor” and politically “risky.”
Neither legally paying $130,000 to Stormy Daniels, real name Stephanie Clifford, to silence her nor repaying that sum is reprehensible.
Donald Trump is instead accused of “falsifying” his company’s Trump Organization “accounting records” by disguising those transactions in “legal fees,” in violation of New York State’s campaign finance laws.
The former White House tenant, who dreams of returning but is surrounded by lawsuits, believes he is “innocent” in this criminal case and the victim of a political “witch hunt”.