The judge presiding over Donald Trump’s hush-money case in New York rejected the former president’s argument that he is immune from criminal charges on Wednesday.
Trump was indicted last year on 34 criminal charges related to a hush payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Even though the payment was before he was elected to office, Trump is trying to delay the trial by arguing that he has immunity because some evidence would not be admissible at trial if the Supreme court agrees with his immunity claims which they will hear at the end of this month.
But, Justice Juan Merchan denied the request partly because Trump waited too long to invoke the immunity defense, a clear ploy to try and delay the start of his first criminal trial.
“Defendant chose not to raise the defense of presidential immunity until well past the 45-day period provided by statute,” Merchan wrote. “This Court finds that Defendant had myriad opportunities to raise the claim of presidential immunity well before March 7, 2024.”
“Defendant’s motion is DENIED in its entirety as untimely,” the judge ruled. “The Court declines to consider whether the doctrine of presidential immunity precludes the introduction of evidence of purported official presidential acts in a criminal proceeding.”
Trump last April was indicted on 34-counts of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels just days before the 2016 presidential election. He has pleaded not guilty.
Merchan ruling means the case is one step closer to trial which is set to begin on April 15.
