Donald Trump's Hush Money Trial Will Remain in Manhattan

Former President Donald Trump's effort to halt his criminal "hush money" trial attempting to pursue a new venue was denied on Monday, leaving it to move forward in Manhattan. Trump had claimed that bias against him was too common amongst potential jurors in the city.

Context

Trump is facing criminal charges in New York City from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office surrounding allegations that he illegally falsified business records in order to conceal alleged hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and keep her quiet about an affair she says she and Trump had in 2006. Trump has denied the affair ever happened and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

As the trial date fast approaches, Trump has become increasingly aggressive on social media against Judge Merchan, who is overseeing the case, accusing him of being impartial and biased against him, and calling for his recusal. Merchan has expanded a gag order against Trump amid these attacks, some of which have also targeted his daughter, but the former president has continued to make them.

What We Know

On Monday, Trump's legal filed what some characterized as a last-ditch effort to delay his Manhattan trial, filing an attempt to appeal the gag order leveled against him and to request a change in venue, halting the trial in the process. On the latter count, the former president's team claimed that residents of Manhattan would be unavoidably biased against him and that media coverage of him had been unfavorable. Bragg's office countered this request, claiming that it was too late in the process for such a request and arguing that Trump generates his own publicity.

Later on in the day, the court issued a decision denying Trump a delay while he pursues a change in venue motion, allowing the case to go to trial next week in Manhattan. The decision was issued by Judge Lizbeth Gonzalez with a brief one-sentence ruling.

"Defendant's application for a stay of trial...pending the determination of defendant's motion for a change of venue, is denied," a court document shared to X by reporter Frank G. Runyeon read.

A decision appealing the gag order is still pending, as oral arguments will be heard in the matter on Tuesday.

Newsweek reached out to Trump's office via email on Monday evening for comment.

Views

Steven Wu, appellate chief for Bragg's office, argued in court on Monday that Trump's efforts to delay or move the venue for his trial were already dismissed as untimely by Merchan.

"The question in this case is not whether a random poll of New Yorkers from whatever neighborhood are able to be impartial, it's about whether a trial court is able to select a jury of 12 impartial jurors," Wu said, adding the Trump had made "countless media appearances talking about the facts of this case, the witnesses, and so on," in order to stoke publicity.

What Comes Next

Trump's Manhattan criminal case will go to trial next week on April 15, pending any other attempts he makes to delay it.

Update 04/08/24 6:40 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and background.