Trump’s hush money trial
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The New York judge presiding over former President Trump’s hush money trial announced that Trump will not be permitted to attend the Supreme Court arguments on presidential immunity.
Delay in ruling
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This decision followed an earlier delay in ruling on Trump’s request to attend his son Barron’s high school graduation in May.
Trump’s efforts
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Trump’s efforts to take days off from his hush money trial, which is anticipated to last for weeks or even months, coincided with the commencement of the trial in Manhattan.
Prohibit
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The ruling to prohibit Trump from being in Washington, D.C. on April 25, the day the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on Trump’s claim of presidential immunity in his federal criminal case, was made just before the New York trial adjourned on Monday.
Big deal
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“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 Juan Merchan
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Judge Juan Merchan said to Trump lawyer Todd Blanche, rejecting his request to let the former president play hooky.
Next week
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“I will see him here next week,” the judge added.
State law
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According to New York state law, Trump must be present for the entire duration of his trial unless the judge grants him permission to be absent.
Superior
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Following the court session, Trump implied that Judge Merchan considers himself “superior” to the Supreme Court for forbidding him from attending the high court’s oral arguments.
Deny Trump
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Additionally, the former president alleged that Merchan prevented him from attending his son Barron’s high school graduation in May. While the judge did not make a definitive ruling on the matter earlier in the day, he also did not outright deny Trump the opportunity to attend the event.
Graduation
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“I was looking forward to that graduation with his mother and father there,” Trump told reporters. “It looks like the judge isn’t going to allow me to escape this scam. It’s a scam trial.”
Criticized
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During a statement made outside the courtroom, Trump criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) for being present at the trial throughout the day, insinuating that incidents of people being “mugged and killed” occur frequently outside the courthouse.
Unresolved
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The initial day of Trump’s inaugural criminal trial mainly focused on unresolved legal issues, with jury selection commencing after an afternoon break for lunch.
34 charges
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Trump faces 34 charges of falsifying business records related to a payment made by his former attorney, Michael Cohen, to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election to conceal an alleged affair.
Not guilty
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Trump has entered a plea of not guilty and refutes the claims of the affair.
Jury
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The process of selecting a jury is set to continue on Tuesday and may extend over several days or even weeks.
