NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump threw up his hands in frustration Tuesday as a judge scheduled his criminal trial for March 25, putting the former president and current candidate in a courtroom in Manhattan in the heat of next year’s presidential primary season.
Trump, appearing via video conference at a pretrial hearing in the hush-money case, beamed at the camera as Judge Juan Manuel Merchan advised him to cancel all other obligations for the duration of the trial, which could be last for several weeks.
Trump, wearing a blue suit against a backdrop of American flags at his Florida estate, then turned to a lawyer at his side — their brief discussion inaudible on the video feed — to the left. will sit with his arms folded for the rest of the hearing.
Trump said little during the hearing, but was mocked afterward on social media, writing: “I just had a hearing in the Supreme Court of New York County where I believe my First Amendment Rights, ‘ Freedom of Speech,’ was violated, and they forced us a trial date of March 25, right in the middle of Primary season.”
“Very unfair, but this is exactly what the Radical Left Democrats want,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “This is called ELECTION INTERFERENCE, and nothing like this has ever happened in our country before!!!”
Trump pleaded not guilty last month to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush-money payments made during the 2016 campaign to bury allegations that he had extramarital affairs. He denies wrongdoing.
Merchan said he arrived at the March 25 trial date after discussions with Trump’s lawyers and prosecutors. Trump’s lawyer, Susan Necheles, said Trump knew about the date before Tuesday’s hearing and said she did not see his angry reaction.
Trump’s case continues in state court even as his lawyers seek to move it to federal court because some of the alleged behavior occurred while he was president. The Manhattan district attorney’s office has until next week to file papers stating why it should stay in state court, where the historic indictment was brought.
Trump has made the New York case and a long list of other investigations into his personal, professional and presidential conduct central to his campaign to reclaim the White House in 2024. The Republican has portrayed himself as the victim of a coordinated, political efforts to harm his chances.
Trump often mentions the cases at his rallies, in speeches, on TV and on social media. He has repeatedly attacked prosecutors, accused judges by name, including Merchan, and has shown no willingness to back down — even after a recent $5 million verdict in a sexual assault case. – abuse and defamation against him.
The plaintiff in that case, writer E. Jean Carroll, filed a new claim on Monday seeking an additional $10 million or more to hold Trump accountable for his bashing remarks. him on CNN the day after the May 9 verdict.
Trump responded Tuesday by doubling down on his contention that Carroll’s allegations are a “Fake, Made Up Story” and a “TOTAL SCAM” and that her case is “part of the Democrats’ playbook to smear my name and human.”
Merchan spent most of Tuesday’s 15-minute hearing reviewing an order he issued May 8 that sets rules of conduct for Trump’s conduct ahead of the trial.
This is not a gag order and Trump is free to speak about the case and defend himself, Merchan said, but he cannot use evidence handed over to prosecutors to attack witnesses or post sensitive documents on social media. If he violates the order, he risks being held in contempt.
Among the concerns raised by prosecutors is that Trump could use “highly personal information” found on witnesses’ cellphones, such as personal photos and text messages to family and friends, said even secret grand jury testimony and other material, to arouse his anger. supporters.
Nothing in the order prevents Trump from speaking “loudly and persuasively” in his defense without necessarily “starting to attack individuals, revealing names, addresses, cellphone numbers, identities, dates of birth, or anything along those lines,” Merchan said. Some sensitive material shared with prosecutors should be kept only by Trump’s lawyers, not Trump himself.
Prosecutors sought the injunction shortly after Trump’s arrest, citing what they say is his history of making “harassing, embarrassing, and threatening statements” about people he is legally involved with. disputes.
Trump was spared a personal appearance in court on Tuesday, avoiding the massive security and logistical challenges that accompanied his arraignment last month.. Instead, the Republican connected via video conference, with his face beaming on TV monitors set up around the courtroom.
Trump is not required to appear in court in person again until Jan. 4, just weeks before the first primary votes are expected to be cast.
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Associated Press reporter Jill Colvin contributed to this report. _
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