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Former President Donald Trump issued a 9-word message on Monday ahead of entering court for his case involving alleged hush money payments.
"This is a witch hunt. This is a hoax," Trump told reporters just before entering a New York courtroom.
The context:
Trump appeared in court in New York on Monday for a hearing relating to a lawsuit brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and allegations that the former president made hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 presidential election.
In April, Bragg's office filed a 34-count felony indictment against Trump, alleging that the former president "repeatedly and fraudulently falsified New York business records to conceal crimes that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election."
What we know:
Trump has continued to deny any wrongdoing in the case while also criticizing Bragg.
"It is the District Attorney of Manhattan who is breaking the law by using the fake and fully discredited testimony (even by the SDNY [Southern District of New York]!) of a convicted liar, felon and jailbird Michael Cohen, to incredibly persecute, prosecute, and indict a former president, and now leading (by far!) presidential candidate, for a crime that doesn't exist," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post last year.
Trump previously sought a delay in the trial, but his lawyers disputed a proposed delay by Bragg's office earlier this month. Bragg's office said it was open to a delay of up to 30 days.
"We note that a 30-day adjournment would move the start of the trial from March 25 to April 24, which would conflict with Passover, which this year is from April 22 to April 30," Trump's lawyers said in a footnote to New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan. "The Court cannot schedule the trial in a timeframe that would prevent or inhibit the ability of observant Jews to participate as jurors."
Newsweek reached out to Trump's spokesperson via email for comment.
Views:
Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance, recently published a blog post speaking about Trump's alleged hush money case and said, "It looks like Trump's complaints about discovery violations by prosecutors in the criminal case are falling apart now that the District Attorney has had the opportunity to respond."
"We'll watch to see if there's anything but shouting left for the hearing on Monday, but unless there is more, expect the Judge to reset trial in this case in the next future, maybe on April 15," she wrote.
What's next:
Trump is also facing several other legal headaches, including a civil fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, where he is required to post a bond amount worth over $450 million on Monday.
If Trump is unable to post bond, James could begin seizing some of his assets and properties.
This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.
Update, 3/25/24, 10:21 a.m. EST: This story has been updated with further information.
Update, 3/25/24, 10:50 a.m. EST: This story has been updated with further information.
About the writer
Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more