In an unprecedented decision in the United States, New York judge Juan Merchan rejected Donald Trump's request to dismiss 34 criminal charges related to the alleged payment of money allegedly obtained through money laundering to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in order to silence her and to prevent their political career from being damaged.
These allegations represent the first of four charges facing the former president and current Republican favorite in the November 5 presidential election.
The trial, scheduled to begin March 25, will mark a milestone in American history as the first criminal trial of a former president.
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Trump, 77, is accused of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election that was reported as legal fees in his company's official accounts.
The trial is part of a legal rollercoaster Trump has faced, with other cases in Florida, Washington and Georgia, some for more serious crimes such as election interference in 2020 or withholding classified documents.
The hearing also shed light on another trial in Washington charging Trump with conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results.
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The start of the trial was postponed until a decision was made on the former president's possible immunity. Despite the numerous allegations and pending lawsuits, Trump maintains a positive position in voting intention polls, outperforming Democrat Joe Biden in several polls.
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The mogul used his court appearances to raise money for his presidential campaign, raking in millions of dollars last year.
Although Trump has pleaded innocent and denounced a “witch hunt,” experts point to the uncertainty over a possible criminal conviction, which would not legally prevent his candidacy for president.
Meanwhile, Trump continues his election campaign without this damaging his popularity.
More than 70 criminal proceedings
- The former president has more than 70 criminal cases of various kinds on his record.
- Among the most serious cases is the assessment of his criminal responsibility during the storming of the Capitol at the end of his term in office.
- Another case of significance is the investigation into his role in the secret government papers discovered at his Mar-a-Lago residence.