Trump hush money trial ordered to move forward

New York Judge Juan Merchan today denied Donald Trump’s motion to dismiss the criminal charges filed against him by New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg and ordered Trump’s trial to move toward a scheduled beginning on March 25. Trump was indicted by a grand jury on 34 felony counts for falsifying business records and related infractions for paying off porn star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about the sexual affair they had.

Trump denied any wrongdoing and claimed that Bragg was politically motivated to bring the charges. It was alleged that Trump made the payoff because he did not want Daniels’ story to come out before the 2016 presidential election.

During a hearing this morning that was attended by Trump, Judge Merchan denied a motion to dismiss the charges and stated that jury selection in the trial would begin March 25. Trump attorney Todd Blanche called Merchan’s decision a “grave injustice” and said that Trump and his attorneys are in an impossible position because they are facing other trials as well as the one over which Merchan is presiding.

Outside of the courtroom, Trump complained that the trial was designed to hurt him in the upcoming election. He said that he can’t be on the campaign trail if he’s in a New York courtroom standing trial.