Donald Trump's criminal trial over alleged hush money to Stormy Daniels set
Former President Donald Trump has appeared in court via a video link today for the second hearing in his landmark criminal hush money case, as the date of his criminal trial was confirmed.
He appeared in a dark blue suit, red tie and white shirt in front of two American flags and was seated next to his attorney Todd Blanche.
Mr Blanche said his client "believes his First Amendment rights are being violated". Judge Juan Manuel Merchan responded by saying it is "not a gag order".
Judge Merchan reiterated that Mr Trump is permitted to speak about it publicly and acknowledged his status as a former president and as a candidate for the 2024 election gives him a right to publicly defend himself.
He does, however, risk being held in contempt if he breaches the new orders against him.
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Mr Trump's lawyers are seeking to have his criminal case moved to federal court. It will continue in state court while that plays out.
A date for the trial was today confirmed as being set for March 25, 2024, during the GOP primaries to decide their candidate for the election.
Mr Trump threw his hands up in court as he was given this news.
Mr Trump appeared in court via video link (Getty Images)
Karen MacDougal is one of two women, the other being Stormy Daniels, who allegedly had a relationship with Trump prior to his 2016 presidential campaign (Karen McDougal/Twitter)Currently, Mr Trump is expected to win the Republican primaries and challenge incumbent President Joe Biden.
Another hearing is set for October 2023.
During the hearing, Mr Trump and Mr Blanche's brief discussion was inaudible on the video feed. Mr Trump then resumed sitting with his arms folded for the remainder of the hearing.
The controversial Republican made the virtual appearance in Manhattan Criminal Court, New York, on Tuesday afternoon so that Judge Merchan can make sure he understands the rules aimed to prevent him from using evidence to attack witnesses.
Mr Trump in a Manhattan court in April (AP)Prosecutors said Trump has a history of "harassing, embarrassing, and threatening statements" made towards people he has had legal disputes with.
Prior to the hearing, Judge Merchan agreed to the extra step of personally instructing Trump on the restrictions after listing them on May 8 in what's known as a 'protective order.'
Certain evidence can only be kept by his lawyers and not Trump himself.
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The 45th president pleaded not guilty on April 4 to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to payments his company made to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen.
Stormy Daniels (Piers Morgan Instagram)The investigation is scrutinising six-figure payments made to porn actor Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. Both say they had sexual encounters with the married businessman years before he got into politics.
It is the second time Trump has appeared in court after he became the first US president in American history arrested and charged with a crime.
Mr Trump denies all charges and accusations against him. He claims the prosecution is politically motivated and has made the New York case and the long list of other investigations he faces central to his campaign to reclaim the White House, portraying himself as the victim of a coordinated effort to sully his chances.
The businessman often discusses the cases at his rallies and in other speeches, and has repeatedly attacked prosecutors and judges by name.
The hearing comes just hours after E Jean Carroll amended her remaining defamation lawsuit against Trump to include the derogatory remark he made about her at a CNN town hall.
On May 9, a jury awarded Ms Carroll $5million in damages after she sued him alleging battery and defamation. Mr Trump has appealed.
A nine-person jury in the civil suit decided Mr Trump had sexually abused Ms Carroll – but not raped her – at an upscale Manhattan department store in early spring 1996.
She is seeking at least a further $10million for comments made by Mr Trump at a CNN town hall meeting.
Roberta Kaplan, Ms Carroll's attorney, had already filed a proposed update to the $10million complaint in a civil court to include previous comments made by Mr Trump.
On Tuesday morning, the former president yet again made comments about Ms Carroll and claimed she has called her husband 'ape' without any evidence.
On his Truth Social media platform, he said: "I don’t know E. Jean Carroll, I never met her or touched her (except on a celebrity line with her African American husband who she disgustingly called the ‘Ape,’).
"I wouldn’t want to know or touch her, I never abused her or raped her or took her to a dressing room 25 years ago in a crowded department store where the doors are LOCKED, she has no idea when, or did anything else to her, except deny her Fake, Made Up Story, that she wrote in a book. IT NEVER HAPPENED, IS A TOTAL SCAM, UNFAIR TRIAL!”
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