Prosecutors in Donald Trump's New York hush money trial accused him of violating the gag order seven more times on social media, prompting a hearing on the alleged violations next week. One juror was excused due to concerns about her identity being made public, leaving six jurors and six alternates to be selected. Despite the setback, the trial is proceeding at a faster pace than expected, with opening arguments potentially starting by Monday. Trump has criticized the trial as a political "witch hunt" and used the media attention to spread campaign messages and attack his political foes.
Former President Donald Trump is set to appear in a New York City courtroom for jury selection in the first-ever criminal trial of a former president. He is accused of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. The jury selection process is expected to be lengthy, with both sides aiming to find jurors who are fair and impartial. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts, and the outcome of the trial could have significant implications.
Former President Donald Trump's attempt to delay his criminal hush money trial by challenging a gag order was swiftly rejected by a New York appeals judge. The gag order restricts Trump from speaking about likely witnesses and making certain statements about related figures. Trump's lawyers argued that he is unfairly restricted from responding to public attacks by witnesses, but the judge denied his motion for a delay. The trial is set to begin in six days, and Trump is also seeking to move the case out of Manhattan Supreme Court and to have the presiding judge recuse himself.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan has scheduled a hearing for March 25 to address the delayed disclosure of documents in the criminal trial against former President Donald Trump. The dispute revolves around whether the District Attorney and federal prosecutors have timely provided all relevant materials to the defense, as required by New York law. The DA is expected to argue that he had requested exculpatory and impeachment information, turned over what he had been given, and had not been working closely with the federal prosecutors. The hearing will likely focus on the reasons for the delayed production of relevant material and the independence of the two prosecutor offices.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan has shaped the upcoming criminal trial of former President Donald Trump by ruling on what evidence and topics may be presented to the jury. The judge has emphasized that the trial is mostly about an alleged attempt to influence an election, while also considering the relevance of sexual misconduct allegations. The judge has allowed testimony about the "Access Hollywood" tape but has barred the actual footage from being shown to the jury, and is still deliberating on whether to allow testimony about multiple women who accused Trump of sexual assault.
Former President Donald Trump's lawyers are seeking to pause the enforcement of the penalties in his civil fraud trial, planning to post a $100 million bond instead of the $464 million judgment ordered by Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron. They argue that the penalties are "unprecedented and punitive," and that the current oversight and the $100 million bond ensure that the New York Attorney General could collect the judgment if needed. The penalties include a $355 million fine plus interest, and a three-year ban on Trump running any New York-based company.
Cyndi Lauper's son Declyn 'Dex' Lauper, 26, appeared in Manhattan Supreme Court on gun charges following a shooting in Harlem. He was bailed out by his father, actor David Thornton, and wore a yellow bomber jacket with braided hair for the hearing. Dex was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a loaded firearm after being found with a loaded gun and drugs in his possession. This isn't his first run-in with the law, as he was previously arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle. Dex's musical collaboration with his mother was mentioned, and he was seen smoking marijuana after the court hearing.
Former President Donald Trump has lost his bid to dismiss his civil fraud case for the fifth time as Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron denied his request for a directed verdict. Engoron emphasized that "a lie is still a lie" and rejected the arguments made by Trump's experts regarding the disclosure of his assets. The court is now in recess until early 2024, with legal briefs due on January 5 and closing arguments scheduled for January 11.
Former US President Donald Trump's name has been added to New York's criminal record database, Web Crims, after his arraignment on felony charges in Manhattan Supreme Court. The online record lists his name, year of birth, and the 34 criminal counts he was charged with, including falsifying business records. Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges, which are related to hush-money payments made to two women during the 2016 presidential campaign. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and called the charges a politically driven "witch hunt."
