First Trump Criminal Trial Confirmed For March 25

A New York judge has confirmed a March 25 start date in the 'hush money' criminal trial of former President Donald Trump, after dismissing a petition from Trump's legal to delay the trial. The criminal trial will be the first ever against a former president.

• The case brought by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg (D), which alleges Trump falsified business records to obscure hush money payments to an adult film actress, is considered the least dangerous to Trump’s freedom.
• The decision is the first of a raft of upcoming rulings across Trump's four cases. In the Georgia state racketeering case, Trump is seeking to disqualify DA Fani Willis from leading the investigation following an affair with a lead prosecutor. If Trump is successful, it could significantly delay the case as a new team of prosecutors consider the evidence afresh.
• Also pending, a Supreme Court ruling on Trump’s immunity from prosecution in the federal election subversion case. DOJ Special Council Jack Smith has urged the panel to expedite the ruling: “The public interest in a prompt trial is at its zenith where, as here, a former President is charged with conspiring to subvert the electoral process so that he could remain in office.”
• The Washington Post reports: “Now the fate of Smith’s case is entirely in the hands of the high court’s nine justices — three of whom, of course, were nominated by Trump. If they quickly side with Smith, legal experts tell WaPo a trial could begin in late May or June.”