The judge presiding over the court Donald Trump‘s lawsuit alleging falsification of work records, overturned his bid to use presidential immunity as part of his defense, finding the former president waited too long to raise the issue.
In his ruling on Wednesday, Judge Juan Merchan also denied Trump’s request to delay the trial’s start date until the United States. Supreme Court Rules for his immunity claims in the federal election interference case in Washington
Trump argued in a filing in New York last month that he is immune from impeachment based on “official acts” and that some evidence against him should be kept out of the pending trial because they are official presidential acts, including his tweets and public comments.
Merchan rejected the request, saying Trump waited too long to make the argument. “This Court finds that the defendant had numerous opportunities to raise his presidential immunity claim before March 7, 2024,” but failed to do so, the judge wrote.
The evidence that Trump’s lawyers are trying to keep out of the case relates to testimony he gave while in office about two key prosecution witnesses: Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen and veteran movie star Stormi Daniels. Merchan said Wednesday Trump warned prosecutors they plan to use the evidence within months.
“The defendant had sufficient knowledge of the People’s possession and intent to use the various statements allegedly made by the defendant on social media, in public, and in various interviews. He was also well aware that the defense of presidential immunity might be available to him, even if unsuccessful. “, the judge wrote.
Trump’s lawyers also argued in filings last month that the trial, now scheduled to begin on April 15, should be put on hold until the Supreme Court rules on Trump’s immunity arguments. The Supreme Court is scheduled to consider these evidences on April 25.
Merchan also rejected this request in his decision on Wednesday.