Donald Trump returns to court…
Donald Trump attended the preliminary hearing in Manhattan court with his lawyers by videoconference from his Florida mansion.
At the hearing, Judge Juan Merchan briefed Trump on what he could and could not tell the public about the case and the evidence, stating that the prosecution would share the evidence in the case with his lawyers.
Noting that Trump can defend himself against allegations as part of the 2024 presidential election campaign, Merchan warned that violating rules set by the court regarding the sharing of evidence in the case to the public could result in punishment.
While Merchan decided that hearings related to the case would begin on March 25, 2024, he requested that defense motions be filed by August 29 and that prosecutors respond by October 10.
TRUMP FOUND BY GRAND JURY
Trump, a candidate for the 2024 presidential election in the United States, was indicted on March 18 by a grand jury as a result of the Manhattan district attorney’s investigation into the illegal “hush” payment to the adult film star. Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election.
Trump appeared before a judge in New York on April 4 for committing fraud in “hush” and related records.
Trump, who has denied 34 separate charges brought against him by the Manhattan Attorney General’s Office, described the allegations against him as a “political witch hunt” and said he viewed the allegations as “election interference.”
Trump was recorded as “the first former president in United States history to stand trial on the charges against him.” (AA)