Donald Trump made a video appearance in a New York courtroom on Tuesday where the judge tentatively scheduled the former president’s trial for March 25, a date that would fall in the heat of the presidential primary season .
During Tuesday’s hearing, Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan considered an order barring Mr. Trump from publicly releasing certain evidence given by prosecutors.
Mr. Trump was spared an in-person courthouse appearance, avoiding the massive security and logistical challenges that accompanied his arraignment last month. Instead, the Republican was connected by videoconference, with his face projected onto the courtroom television screens.
The former US president, who wants to return to the White House in 2024, is allowed to speak publicly about the criminal case, according to Judge Merchan’s order, but he risks being found in contempt in court if he uses evidence given by prosecutors as part of the preliminary investigation to target witnesses or others involved in the case.
Mr. Trump pleaded not guilty on April 4 to 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments his company made to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen. Prosecutors say the payments were intended to reimburse and compensate Mr. Cohen for orchestrating payouts during the 2016 campaign to bury allegations of extramarital sex. The main interested party denies having had extramarital affairs and claims that the indictment is a maneuver of partisan politics.
Judge Merchan’s protective order prohibits Mr. Trump and his lawyers from broadcasting evidence to third parties or posting it on social media, and it requires that certain sensitive documents shared by prosecutors be kept only by the attorneys for Mr. Trump, not by Mr. Trump himself.
Prosecutors sought the order shortly after Mr Trump was arrested, citing what they say is his history of making ‘harassing, embarrassing and threatening statements’ about people he is embroiled in legal disputes with. .
Judge Merchan, noting Donald Trump’s “special” status as a former president and current candidate, made it clear that the protective order was not to be construed as a gag order and that Mr Trump had the right to defend themselves publicly.
Donald Trump’s lawyers are seeking to have his criminal case transferred to federal court. In the meantime, proceedings will continue in state court.