Judge Juan Merchan has ruled against former President Donald Trump’s attempt to use presidential immunity as part of his defense in the falsifying business records case. The judge determined that Trump waited too long to raise the issue, thereby denying his motion to block certain evidence from being admitted at trial.
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In his ruling issued on Wednesday, Judge Merchan also dismissed Trump’s motion to postpone the trial’s commencement until the U.S. Supreme Court renders a decision on his immunity claims in the federal election interference case in Washington, D.C.
Trump had argued in a New York filing last month that he is immune from state prosecution for “official acts” undertaken during his presidency, contending that evidence, including his tweets and public statements, should be excluded from the impending trial.
However, Judge Merchan rejected Trump’s assertion, stating that the former president had ample opportunities to raise the presidential immunity defense before March 7, 2024. Merchan emphasized that Trump was aware of prosecutors’ intentions to use evidence related to his alleged pressure on key witnesses, Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels, for several months.
Despite Trump’s efforts to assert immunity in the past, including a failed attempt to transfer the Manhattan district attorney’s case to federal court, Merchan criticized the timing of Trump’s latest attempt, deeming it “unjustifiable” and raising doubts about its sincerity.
Trump faces charges of falsifying business records related to payments made to Cohen to reimburse him for a hush money payment to Daniels in 2016. Daniels alleges a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, which he denies. Merchan noted that previous rulings indicated the matter was a personal issue for Trump and not related to official presidential acts.
Furthermore, Merchan rejected Trump’s request to postpone the trial pending the Supreme Court’s ruling on his immunity claims, maintaining the trial’s scheduled start date of April 15.
As of now, there has been no immediate response from Trump’s legal team regarding the ruling.