The judge in New York handling the trial concerning former President Trump’s hush money case declared on Monday that Trump will not be able to attend the Supreme Court arguments regarding presidential immunity next week.
The judge had previously postponed making a decision on whether or not to allow Trump to attend his son Barron’s high school graduation in May.
As the first day of the trial officially began in Manhattan, Trump made attempts to take off certain days of his hush money trial, which is expected to last for weeks, if not months.
Just before the adjournment of the New York trial on Monday, a decision was made to prohibit Trump from being in Washington, D.C., on April 25. This date coincides with the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments on Trump’s presidential immunity claim in his federal criminal case.
In response to Todd Blanche’s request to allow the former president to skip a trial in New York Supreme Court, Judge Juan Merchan emphasized the significance of appearing before the Supreme Court. However, he also acknowledged that a trial in New York Supreme Court holds its own importance. “Arguing before the Supreme Court is a big deal, and I can certainly appreciate why your client would want to be there, but a trial in New York Supreme Court… is also a big deal,” Judge Merchan conveyed, ultimately rejecting the request.
The judge mentioned that he would meet him here the following week.
According to New York state law, Trump must be present for the entire duration of his trial, unless he receives special permission from the judge to be excused.
After the court ended its session for the day, Trump insinuated that Merchan considers himself “superior” to the Supreme Court for obstructing his presence during the oral arguments.
The former president made an accusation against Merchan, claiming that he prevented him from attending his son Barron’s high school graduation in May. The judge, however, did not make a decision on the matter earlier Monday, leaving the former president’s request to attend the event unresolved.
“I was really excited for that graduation, hoping to have my mother and father by my side,” Trump expressed to reporters. “Unfortunately, it seems like the judge won’t let me evade this fraudulent trial. It’s truly disheartening.”
During his address outside the courtroom, Trump vehemently criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) for his presence throughout the trial, insinuating that acts of violence such as muggings and killings occur frequently in the vicinity of the courthouse.
The initial day of Trump’s inaugural criminal trial focused primarily on resolving pending legal matters. It was only after a lunch break in the afternoon that the proceedings moved on to the selection of the jury.
Trump faces allegations of falsifying business records in relation to a hush money payment made by his former fixer, Michael Cohen, to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. The payment was intended to conceal an alleged affair, but Trump has pleaded not guilty and vehemently denies any involvement in the affair.
The process of selecting the jury is set to continue on Tuesday and may take several days or even weeks.
