Trump arrives in Manhattan courtroom for hearing where judge could further delay hush-money trial
Victoria Bekiempis
Donald Trump just walked into the Manhattan courtroom for what could be a pivotal hearing in his hush-money case, as judge Juan Merchan weighs whether to set a new trial date, or delay proceedings further.
Wearing a navy suit, red tie and white shirt, the former president entered just before 10am, without much of an expression on his face.
âThis is a witch-hunt and a hoax,â he said, before going into the courtroom.
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Elsewhere in Manhattan, the UN security council just passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, after failing to do so for months due to the vetos of major powers.
The United States objected to previous resolutions but abstained from this vote, allowing it to pass and potentially signaling a new approach to its relationship with Israel, as Joe Biden faces mounting criticism from allies in the Democratic party over his support for its invasion of Gaza.
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Victoria Bekiempis
Merchan asked Trumpâs team why they waited so long to bring the document receipt issues to him, noting that they had met on 15 February.
Trumpâs attorney Todd Blanche responded: âWhen we met with the court on the 15th, the process was ongoing. There wasnât any resolution at that point ⦠we didnât know if [the request] would be granted. We didnât believe, even as I sit here today, I donât know what kind of intervention we could have sought from your honor at that point. We had certainly been trying to get these materials.â
Merchan also asked both sides: âHow many of those documents were actually relevant to this case?â
The prosecution said: âOur assessment is that the number of relevant usable new documents is quite small. Our analysis is ongoing but I think we have in the neighborhood of 300 or fewer are related to the subject matter of this case. The people believe that those materials are almost exclusively cumulative in our view [and] largely inculpatory.â
Victoria Bekiempis
As the hearing kicked off, Judge Juan Merchan started by recapping Donald Trumpâs arguments.
Trumpâs attorneys claim that Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg did not share evidence in a timely manner, and have asked Merchan to either delay the case by at least 90 days, or throw it out altogether.
Merchan noted Trump attorney Todd Blanche filed a motion that accused âthe people of engaging in serious discovery violationsâ, which were âspecifically to interfere in the 2024 presidential electionâ.
Victoria Bekiempis
The hearing is about to begin.
Judge Juan Merchan just arrived on the bench. Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg came into the room shortly before Donald Trump.
Trump arrives in Manhattan courtroom for hearing where judge could further delay hush-money trial
Victoria Bekiempis
Donald Trump just walked into the Manhattan courtroom for what could be a pivotal hearing in his hush-money case, as judge Juan Merchan weighs whether to set a new trial date, or delay proceedings further.
Wearing a navy suit, red tie and white shirt, the former president entered just before 10am, without much of an expression on his face.
âThis is a witch-hunt and a hoax,â he said, before going into the courtroom.
Among the readers of Donald Trumpâs Truth Social account is Joe Biden â or at least whoever manages his X account.
They saw fit to mock the former president for announcing he had received an award from ⦠well, himself:
Hereâs the latest on Donald Trumpâs search for a $454m bond, and what happens if he does not secure one in the coming hours, from the Guardianâs Dominic Rushe:
Time was running out for Donald Trump to secure a bond covering the $454m loss for his recent fraud case loss on Monday, opening the way for New Yorkâs attorney general to begin the long, slow process of seizing his assets.
The former president has until Monday to secure a bond covering the half-billion-dollar judgment against him while he appeals the decision. Trump must post collateral covering 120% of the judgment, according to court filings, a sum of more than $557m. Last week his lawyers said it was a âpractical impossibilityâ for him to secure a bond of this size.
âA bond of this size is rarely if ever seen. In the unusual circumstance that a bond of this size is issued, it is provided to the largest public companies in the world, not to individuals or privately held businesses,â his lawyers argued.
The attorney general, Letitia James, had made clear that she will seize Trump assets if the bond is not secured. On Friday her office filed judgments in Westchester county, north of New York City, home to Trumpâs sprawling Seven Springs estate and golf course.
A judgment has already been entered in New York City, home to some of Trumpâs most famous assets, including Trump Tower and 40 Wall Street.
As deadline to post $454m bond looms, Trump asks ‘Why should I be forced to sell my “babies”‘
Donald Trump is this morning doing what he does: raging on Truth Social about the latest developments in his rollercoaster of a career as a businessman and politician, the latest subject being the massive $454m bond he is on the hook for.
The former president has not found someone willing to back his guarantee, raising the possibility that Letitia James may start freezing his bank accounts and seizing his property. On Truth, Trump was apoplectic about the prospect that heâd have to part with some of his real estate, or his âbabiesâ, in order to satisfy his financial obligations:
Crooked Pols!!! There should be no FINE. Did nothing wrong! Why should I be forced to sell my âbabiesâ because a CORRUPT NEW YORK JUDGE & A.G. SET A FAKE AND RIDICULOUS NUMBER. âTAKE HIS CASH SO THAT HE CANâT USE IT TO DEFEAT HIS POLITICAL OPPONENT, CROOKED JOE BIDEN.â ELECTION INTERFERENCE, ALL HEADED UP BY THE WHITE HOUSE – THIS INCLUDES FANI AND THE CORRUPT MANHATTAN D.A. BRAGG ADMITTED THERE WAS NO CRIME, WAS MORTIFIED BY WHAT MARK POMERANCE DID – AND HE SHOULD BE. WITCH HUNT!
New York judge may set new trial date in Trump hush money case as ex-president faces deadline for bond
Good morning, US politics blog readers. Today is another big one for Donald Trump and his lawyers, who are expected in a New York City courtroom for a hearing that may decide when his case on charges related to hush money payments goes to trial anytime soon. Jury selection was originally supposed to begin today, but Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg requested a delay after receiving new documents from federal prosecutors. He now says no further postponements are necessary, and weâll see if judge Juan Merchan agrees. Trump has been indicted four times, but all of his cases have been tied up in pre-trial motions and appeals, raising the possibility that none are resolved prior to his expected face off in the November presidential election against Joe Biden. The Manhattan case appears to be the one closest to starting trial, and weâll see if Merchan gets the ball rolling, or gives the former president another delay.
Today is also the deadline for Trump to put up a $454m bond required by the judgement in his fraudulent property valuation case, or face that prospect that New York attorney general Letitia James starts seizing his bank accounts and, potentially, his commercial property. The former president has had trouble finding a backer willing to do that, but thereâs still time for someone to step up.
Hereâs what else is going on today:
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Biden, who has not been popular with voters for most of his presidency, overtook Trump in the Economistâs polling average, perhaps a sign of better days to come.
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Congress left Washington DC after narrowly averting a partial government shutdown, but leaving behind all kinds of unfinished business, including whether or not to approve military aid to Israel and Ukraine.
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White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre spars with reporters at 1pm ET.
