In another setback for former President Donald Trump, a New York appellate judge has rejected Wednesday's latest and last attempt to delay his upcoming hush money trial.
This decision comes shortly after Trump's lawyers made an emergency plea to halt the trial's scheduled start on Monday next week. He also attempted to relocate the trial, requesting that it be moved out of New York, according to Fox News.
Trump's Emergency Stay Request Denied as Hush Money Trial Approaches
Associate Justice Ellen Gesmer swiftly dismissed Trump's request for an emergency stay, which would have paused the trial. This denial marks the third consecutive day that Trump's efforts to delay the trial have been rebuffed.
Trump's defense team, led by attorney Emil Bove, argued that key issues related to the trial's fairness warranted a delay.
According to Bove, these issues include Judge Juan Merchan's refusal to recuse himself and restrictions on defense motions.
"Justice Merchan has a mandatory obligation to recuse himself," the lawyer stated. "This can only be done once, and it must be done right because of the impact it will have on this election."
Prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney's office called the defense's arguments "completely meritless" and stressed the public interest in proceeding with the trial as scheduled.
Trump previously filed a motion requesting Judge Merchan's recusal from the case, alleging a conflict due to his daughter's work for a political consulting firm affiliated with Democrats, CNN reported.
However, the judge has yet to rule on this motion.
Earlier this month, Judge Merchan, who oversees Trump's hush money trial, extended a gag order to include his family following his attacks on the former's daughter, Loren Merchan, on Truth Social.
READ NEXT: Donald Trump Gag Order in Hush-Money Case Expanded After Former President Attacked Judge's Daughter
Trump Faces Allegations of Falsifying Business Records in Hush Money Trial
The case revolves around allegations that Trump falsified business records related to hush money payments made by his former attorney Michael Cohen to adult film actress Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
His lawyers also argue that the payments made to Cohen were legitimate and lawful expenses, according to The Guardian.
Throughout the week, Trump's legal team has made multiple unsuccessful attempts to postpone the trial, citing issues such as a gag order and challenges to the judge's impartiality.
The trial, which begins on April 15, is the first of four criminal trials involving a former US president.
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