by Alexis Simendinger & Kristina Karisch
The first criminal trial of a former president is now pinned to a calendar ahead of Election Day. After various delays, jury selection will begin April 15 in former President Trump’s hush money trial, a judge ruled Monday in a case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D).
While speaking from the courthouse steps, Trump repeated his unfounded assertions aimed at appealing to his supporters that he’s a victim of “election interference” backed by “Biden and his thugs.”
Fact check: No federal, state or other judge has agreed with Trump’s claims that he cannot or should not be tried for alleged crimes ahead of an election. The Supreme Court will hear arguments next month in an appeal brought by the presumptive GOP nominee as to whether presidents, current or former, are immune from prosecution for any acts or decisions made while in office.
The Hill’s Niall Stanage in The Memo describes Trump’s legal wins and losses. Here are a handful of takeaways.
Separately, Trump received a favorable break as a civil fraud bond was slashed by 68 percent Monday by a New York appeals court to $175 million while he appeals — if he posts the money within 10 days. Trump said he would comply. The original bond judgment was $454 million, which Trump’s lawyers told the court their client had difficulty raising. Without naming him, Trump on Monday called Justice Arthur Engoron, who set the higher bond, “corrupt.” If Trump loses his appeal, he might still have to pay a higher penalty with interest.
In all, Monday’s order was a significant victory for the former president as he contests the state’s charges that he committed fraud to benefit his real estate empire. The bond reduction came just before New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) was expected to initiate efforts to collect the judgment by seizing some Trump assets.
Next month’s criminal trial, barring snags or delays, is expected to explore 34 counts accusing Trump of falsifying business records related to reimbursements made to his former fixer, Michael Cohen, for hush money payments. Those payments were delivered before the 2016 presidential election to adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep her from going public about an alleged affair with Trump. The former president has pleaded not guilty and denied the affair (CNN).
The Wall Street Journal: Here’s how Trump’s courtroom calendar collides with his campaign calendar.
In a related development, Trump’s SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) begins market trading today. Shares of Digital World Acquisition Corp. rose Monday in trading following investors vote to approve a deal to take Trump’s Truth Social platform public under a new ticker, DJT. Trump on paper is now on Bloomberg’s 500 wealthiest list after the Truth Social merger. Under the deal’s current terms, he will not be allowed to sell shares in the company for at least six months.