Trump's trial delay argument failed because he delayed making it: legal expert
Former President Donald Trump's last-ditch effort to delay his hush money trial failed for an ironic reason pointed out by a legal expert on Wednesday: Trump delayed.
CNN analyst Norm Eisen appeared on "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" to discuss Judge Juan Merchan's ruling against Trump's plea to push the trial date back until after the Supreme Court ruled on a presidential immunity claim made in his election interference case.
"Trump and his lawyers are running out of delay options," Eisen said, noting the latest ruling comes on the heels of eight failed attempts to delay the upcoming April 15 court date.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records to disguise hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election, as is contended by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
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While much of the coverage of Merchan's ruling has focused on Trump's attempt to use one criminal court case to delay another, Eisen pointed to a small irony that had gone unnoticed.
"The judge found that Trump brought that up too late," Eisen said. "So Trump's own delay victimized his delay attempt."
Eisen said he believes Trump has run out of delay options, saying, "This case is very likely going to trial with jury selection."
The legal analyst also weighed in on the former president's Truth Social post Wednesday night in which he shared a controversial ally's attacks on Merchan's wife, despite a gag order restricting him from targeting the judges family.
"It probably is a technical violation," Eisen said. "Not everything in court happens publicly so there may have also been private letter briefings about this, conferences with the judge or other concerns.
"But if Trump keeps on this course ... I do think you're gonna see a court response as we've seen in other cases with gag orders."
Watch the video below or at this link.
Norm Eisen on CNN 4/4/24 youtu.be