Appeals court rejects Trump’s bid to delay hush money trial over Manhattan venue

A New York appeals court on Monday denied Trump’s bid to put his hush money trial on pause while he argues the case should be tried outside of Manhattan. 

The decision followed arguments at an emergency hearing where Trump’s lawyers contended deep-blue Manhattan is not an appropriate venue for the controversial Republican former president’s criminal case to be heard. Judge Lizbeth González heard the arguments.

Instead, the former president’s lawyers suggested the trial take place on Staten Island — the only New York City borough Trump won in 2016 and 2020.  

In the meantime, Trump’s trial — scheduled to begin with jury selection April 15 — should be paused, the lawyers argued. It’s slated to be his first criminal trial and the first criminal trial of any former U.S. president. 

Trump’s lawyers asked González to issue an emergency stay, which would have postponed the trial indefinitely. She declined to do so.  

The hush money trial has already faced delays due to a last-minute document dump; it was originally scheduled to begin on March 25. 

Lawyers with the Manhattan district attorney’s office pointed to Judge Juan Merchan’s previous ruling that Trump’s motion to change venues was untimely. They also blamed Trump for any pretrial prejudice for making “countless media appearances talking about the facts of this case, the witnesses, and so on,” according to The Associated Press.

Trump’s lawyers are expected to return to the New York appeals court at a later date for arguments over their last-ditch effort to pause the trial while they appeal a gag order imposed by the trial judge.  

Merchan barred Trump from attacking witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and the judge’s family, but did not preclude him from hurling insults at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) or the judge. 

The gag order originally did not include the family members of Bragg and Merchan, but the judge expanded it after Trump assailed his daughter, Loren, who works for a progressive political consulting firm. The firm, Authentic, boasts clients including President Biden and Vice President Harris. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is a past client.

Loren Merchan’s work also forms the basis for an effort by Trump to recuse Merchan from the case. The former president claims Merchan’s daughter has a “direct financial interest” in his case because of her work for his political opponents.  

The filings relating to both the gag order and the venue change are under seal and not accessible to the public at this time. 

Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his ex-fixer made to a porn star to cover up an alleged affair ahead of the 2016 election. He has pleaded not guilty.

The Associated Press contributed.  

This story was updated on April 8 at 11:26 a.m.