Strange timing? Trump's hush-money trial to start just months before 2024 elections

Justice Juan Merchan in Manhattan state court said on Tuesday (May 23) that the hush-money trial of former US president Donald Trump would begin on March 25, 2024. This means that the proceedings will take place amid Republican primaries to decide who would win the party's nomination to contest the US presidential elections. The actual election would be just months away at the time. Trump has already announced that he would contest the elections.

Watch | Race for White House: Advantage Trump, but suburban women feel former President 'toxic'

In the hush-money case, Trump faces charges that he falsified business records to hide the money he paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2026. Daniels claims Trump had an affair with her. Trump denies this.

Currently, Trump is the front-runner for the Republican nomination. Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is set to announce on Wednesday that he is seeking a nomination from the Republican Party.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records.

The primary purpose of Tuesday's hearing was for Merchan to officially advise Trump of an order restricting him from disclosing certain evidence to third parties, including news outlets and on social media. At the start of the hearing, Merchan asked Trump if he had a copy of the order.

"Yes I do," said Trump.

He was wearing a striped red tie and blue suit as he sat next to his lawyer Todd Blanche and in front of US flags. The two were shown on at least four screens in Merchan's courtroom.

Witnesses might be harassed, say prosecutors

The restrictions on Trump concern grand jury minutes, witness statements, and other materials that prosecutors are required to turn over to the defence to prepare for trial.

According to prosecutors, the order was needed as Trump has a history of attacks on social media. They said that there was a risk that witnesses might be harassed.

Trump would remain free to speak about most evidence in the case which comes from the defence, the judge said at a hearing earlier this month.

Trump lawyers want to meet the attorney general

On Tuesday (May 23) Donald Trump's lawyers requested a meeting with US Attorney General Merrick Garland. The meet was sought over the work of a special counsel handling investigations into the former president

"No President of the United States has ever, in the history of our country, been baselessly investigated in such an outrageous and unlawful fashion," lawyers John Rowley and James Trusty wrote in a letter.

Trump published the letter on social media.

According to the letter, the lawyers requested a meeting with Garland "at your earliest convenience to discuss the ongoing injustice that is being perpetrated by your Special Counsel and his prosecutors."

Garland appointed Special Counsel Jack Smith in November to handle the two Trump investigations.

(With inputs from agencies)

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