A New York judge on Monday decided to set an April 15 trial date for Donald Trump’s criminal hush money case, raising the possibility that the former president will face at least one sentence that could put him on trial on November 5. Efforts to re-enter the White House have become complicated.
A ruling in a separate case in another New York court on Monday (local time) bought Trump some financial breathing space as he tries to build his campaign coffers and keep his real estate empire intact.
The two rulings underscore the multiple legal risks facing the Republican candidate as he attempts to wrest the White House from Democratic President Joe Biden.
In the hush-money case, Trump is accused of illegally altering business records to cover up a $130,000 hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election.
Trump’s lawyers said the payment was to avoid embarrassment for himself and his family, not to help him win the election.
After Judge Juan Merchan set the April 15 date, Trump touted the case as a way to bolster his campaign, telling reporters at a property near his home: “This could work too.” Makes me more popular because people know it’s a scam.”
Trump has accused Biden of waging a legal witch hunt against him and accused judges of corruption without providing any evidence.
Republican strategists say voters have become accustomed to his iconoclastic behavior, but a guilty verdict could hurt his ability to win over swing voters who decide the election.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that a quarter of Republicans and half of independents said they would not vote for Trump if a jury convicted him of a felony.
Trump has said he should not stand trial during the campaign, and his lawyers have filed a series of motions to delay or derail the case.
So far, only the New York case is guaranteed to go to trial before November.
Trump also faces two criminal trials accusing him of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden and another accusing him of mishandling classified information after leaving the White House in 2021. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.
All of those cases involve more serious charges than the New York case, which stemmed from an attempt to cover up an alleged extramarital affair.
But voters may not know until November whether Trump is guilty of subverting democracy or violating national security by storing secrets in bathrooms.
A federal election subversion case is on hold, awaiting review by the Supreme Court, while another election subversion case in Georgia has been delayed for months over whether a prosecutor’s romantic relationship with another attorney constituted a conflict of interest. The federal filing case has also been delayed by Trump’s legal challenge.
In the New York hush-money case, Trump’s lawyers won extra weeks to sort through evidence presented to the state by federal prosecutors who chose not to bring charges after investigating Trump’s payments to Daniels.
But the judge rejected their request for a further postponement and set a trial date of April 15. This means the case may be concluded by the end of May.
No other former U.S. president has ever faced criminal charges, let alone run for president again. But when hush-money allegations were raised a year ago, Republican voters rallied behind Trump, and polls show him largely tied with Biden on that point.
But strategists say that could change.
“Republican voters don’t appear to be bothered by his legal problems, but independents and unaffiliated voters may be affected by the proceedings and ultimately whether he is convicted,” said Jeanette Hoffman, a Republican consultant.
financial lifeline
Trump’s legal troubles also threaten his wallet, as he has amassed more than $500 million in proceeds from the verdicts, on top of mounting legal fees.
Trump faces a Monday deadline to pay a $454 million civil fraud verdict, but he says he can’t pay. New York authorities are preparing to begin seizing his assets.
However, the New York Court of Appeals gave him 10 days to post a $175 million bail while he appeals. Trump said he would come up with the money soon.
The decision makes it unlikely that Trump will see authorities confiscate the loot or have to sell the properties quickly at what he calls a “fire sale” price.
But it may not help reduce his mounting legal bills or help his presidential campaign chip away at Biden’s huge fundraising lead.
One of Trump’s fundraising groups spent $5.5 million in legal fees in February, depleting the funds he needed to win the election.
He posted $91.6 million bail while appealing a libel verdict against author E. Jean Carroll, who said she raped him decades ago. Trump has denied wrongdoing and has appealed.
His upcoming trial will make him a target for many political candidates: making headlines.
“Today’s court action won’t hurt Trump’s campaign as much as many imagine because Trump has mastered the art of winning the media and has dominated the news for the past few months — — even though he’s largely disengaged from the campaign,” said. Brian Darling, Republican strategist.
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