(New York) Former US President Donald Trump appeared on Tuesday by videoconference before the Manhattan court, where the judge in his criminal trial for accounting fraud notified him of communication restrictions on social networks, of which he is fond.
Dark blue suit, red tie, the candidate for the Republican presidential nomination of 2024 appeared on a screen, from Florida, seven weeks after his physical appearance for his indictment, which had sparked a media frenzy and put the New York security services on the teeth.
The 45e President of the United States (2017-2021) pleaded not guilty to 34 accounting frauds related to payments to cover up embarrassing business during the 2016 presidential campaign, including $130,000 to buy a pornographic film actress’s silence on a supposed relationship between them.
Judge Juan Merchan told the parties on Tuesday that the trial would begin on March 25, 2024, coinciding with the Republican Party primary, during which Donald Trump will face Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Donald Trump was prohibited from disseminating certain elements of the case on social networks until then, in particular the documents communicated by the prosecution to allow him to prepare his defense.
With American flags behind him, he appeared to react in spite, shaking his head when the judge told him he could face contempt of court if he failed to do so.
He simply replied “Yes” when Juan Merchan asked him if he had received a copy of the prescription.
The judge also provided, for certain documents in particular, that Donald Trump could consult them with his defense but not photocopy them, photograph them or transcribe them.
He is also prohibited from disclosing the names of employees of the Manhattan prosecutor’s office.
Freedom
The judge responded to a request from this prosecutor’s office, which highlighted the former president’s habit of virulently attacking the witnesses against him and the prosecutors who target him, such as that of Manhattan, the African-American Alvin Bragg, whom he called “animal” and “racist”.
One of Donald Trump’s lawyers, Todd Blanche, told the judge that the former president was “very worried” about a violation of his right to free expression.
The judge replied that the Republican billionaire was still free to speak out on the case and campaign.
But Donald Trump seemed exasperated when Juan Merchan asked the parties not to make commitments that could interfere with the trial.
This criminal trial, a first for a former American president, adds to other legal troubles for Donald Trump, 76.
He is also in the sights of justice for his alleged involvement in an attempt to turn the results of the 2020 presidential election in his favor in Georgia, and for his role in the assault on the Capitol by his supporters on January 6, 2021.
He was judged civilly responsible on May 9 for a sexual assault in 1996 concerning the former journalist E. Jean Carroll and defamation against him, by a citizens’ jury which sentenced him to pay 5 million in damages. He appealed.