Judge Juan Merchan said “at this point” he will move ahead with jury selection beginning March 25 as scheduled, a timeline that would enable a jury to return a verdict well in advance of July’s Republican National Convention and November’s general election.
Trump’s lawyers then began insisting the trial be delayed, noting Trump’s other cases, quickly turning the hearing into a fiery back-and-forth.
“We have been faced with extremely compressed and expedited schedules in each and every one of those trials,” Trump attorney Todd Blanche said.
Blanche described the March trial date as election interference, highlighting the upcoming primary calendar and arguing it will get in the way of Trump’s ability to prepare for trial.
A judge rejected former President Trump’s bid to toss his hush money charges Thursday, paving the way for the first criminal trial of a former president to begin next month.Judge Juan Merchan said “at this point” he will move ahead with jury selection beginning March 25 as scheduled, a timeline that would enable a jury to return a verdict well in advance of July’s Republican National Convention and November’s general election.