New York, NY – Judge Juan Merchan is expected to set a trial start date for the hush money case against former President Donald Trump in a hearing on Monday. The trial, which was initially scheduled to begin on Monday, was postponed until at least mid-April. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the case against Trump, did not oppose the delay and requested the trial start date be pushed back by 30 days.
However, Bragg’s office recently urged Judge Merchan not to further delay the trial, arguing that only a small fraction of the documents turned over by federal prosecutors are relevant to Trump’s defense. Trump’s lawyers, on the other hand, blamed Bragg’s office for not obtaining the documents sooner and are requesting that the charges be dismissed.
The hearing on Monday will focus on the production of documents in the case, which was prompted by a motion filed by Trump’s lawyers. Judge Merchan had previously stated that he would set a new trial date if necessary after ruling on the motion. Trump himself is expected to be present in court for the hearing.
The hush money case alleges that Trump falsified business records in connection to $130,000 in payments made by his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to adult film star Stormy Daniels on his behalf prior to the 2016 presidential election. Daniels has claimed to have had an affair with Trump in 2006, which Trump denies. Although Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges, he has admitted to repaying Cohen.
Judge Merchan recently rejected Trump’s request to prevent Cohen and Daniels from testifying in the case. Cohen, who pleaded guilty to multiple criminal charges in 2018, including making secret payments to women who claimed to have had affairs with Trump, has become a key figure in the investigation.
In addition to the hush money case, Trump also faces three other indictments as he considers another presidential bid. The hearing coincides with a deadline for Trump to pay a bond of over $450 million to cover a judgment from his state civil fraud trial. Trump has appealed the ruling and has threatened to challenge it all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.
As the trial date is expected to be set during Monday’s hearing, all eyes will be on the courtroom as the legal battle continues for the former president.
Summer Concepcion is a politics reporter. Contributing to this report: Adam Reiss, Dareh Gregorian, Tom Winter, Lisa Rubin, and Cat Corrigan.