We now know the date of Trump’s criminal trial

The New York State Court is preparing to begin criminal court proceedings relating to allegations of bribery in a case involving Donald Trump, with jury selection scheduled for March 25.

Donald Trump’s legal troubles are gathering momentum, and this trial is of historic significance as the first criminal prosecution of a former U.S. president.

Judge in New York hush money case rules former President Trump will face his first criminal trial beginning on March 25. https://t.co/daevXdwWcO

— CNN (@CNN) February 15, 2024

Manhattan State Court Judge Juan Merchan denied the former president’s motion to dismiss, paving the way for this historic trial. Trump was indicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records.

The charges assert that these acts were part of an elaborate scheme to conceal extramarital affairs.

The indictment claims that Trump made payments to Michael Cohen, his former lawyer. These payments were made to silence claims by Stormy and Karen McDougal that Trump had had an affair with them. Trump vehemently rejects these allegations. According to the indictment, payments to Daniels and McDougal were disguised as legal fees, including $130,000 for Daniels.

And that’s the real problem.

Falsifying business records is considered a Class E misdemeanor in New York and carries a maximum sentence of 4 years. If Trump is found guilty, given that this case was brought by the state, he will not be allowed to pardon himself in 2024 if he wins the presidential election.

Despite these legal problems, Donald Trump remains a serious contender for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election.

According to some of the polls, he is the favorite against President Joe Biden.

In many key states, Mr. Trump is tied with or ahead of Mr. Biden.

Judge Merchan’s decision to pursue the case comes at a time of intense activity for Mr. Trump. He claims that his opponents are trying to undermine his comeback by bringing charges against him.

From March 25, then, the jury selection process begins, while the world will closely follow the progress of this historic court case, marking a new chapter in American legal and political history.

But first, let’s see how the Trump clan fares against prosecutor Fani Willis in Georgia… but that’s another story.