Former President Donald Trump will be the focus of a criminal trial early next year. After being charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, Trump has been ordered to stand trial on March 25, 2024 in New York, New York.
The start of the forthcoming trial will occur after more than two dozen presidential primaries take place. The former president’s attorney, Todd Blanche, told Judge Juan Merchan that his client is a “leading contender” in the presidential race and argued that his client’s “First Amendment rights are being violated.” However, Merchan clarified that there is no gag order in place, leaving Trump free to discuss the trial on the campaign trail.
“It’s certainly not my intention to in any way impede Mr. Trump’s ability to campaign for the presidency of the United States,” Merchan told Blanche, according to NBC News.
“He is certainly free to deny the charges. He is free to defend himself against the charges. He is free to campaign. He is free to do just about anything that does not violate the specific terms of this protective order.”
In response to the trial date, Trump took to Truth Social to share his thoughts after the hearing took place.
“Just had New York County Supreme Court hearing where I believe my First Amendment Rights, ‘Freedom of Speech,’ have been violated, and they forced upon us a trial date of March 25th, right in the middle of Primary season,” the former President wrote.
“Very unfair, but this is exactly what the Radical Left Democrats wanted.”
