Trump’s criminal trial won’t start until next March

NEW YORK — The trial of Donald Trump has been scheduled for March 25, 2024, the judge presiding over his Manhattan criminal case said Tuesday.

Trump, who appeared on video in his first courtroom appearance since 34 felony charges were unveiled against him last month, appeared to react angrily when the trial date was announced by Justice Juan Merchan. Trump’s microphone was muted and it was unclear what he said to the lawyer seated next to him, Todd Blanche.

The appearance itself was brief. Merchan reviewed the restrictions that he has placed on Trump’s use of material from the case, asking Blanche whether he had reviewed the restrictions with his client. Blanche said that he had.

Prosecutors working for District Attorney Alvin Bragg asked that Trump’s access to some case material be limited and requested that Merchan prohibit the former president from disseminating the prosecution’s evidence, including records of interviews with witnesses and grand jury testimony, on social media or to reporters.

Trump’s lawyers fought that request, but at a hearing earlier this month, Merchan said he would grant it. He emphasized, however, that Trump would be free to speak about the “vast majority of the evidence.”

Trump barely spoke with his microphone on once the hearing got underway. But as Merchan reviewed the motion schedule that will proceed the trial, he appeared increasingly agitated, frequently speaking to

Blanche.

The charges against Trump stem from a hush money payment made to a porn star on his behalf during the 2016 campaign. The payment was made by Trump’s former fixer, Michael Cohen; after Trump won the presidency, he reimbursed Cohen, signing nine of the 11 checks that were used to repay him. Prosecutors say that Trump’s family business, the Trump Organization, then created false records to account for the payments, saying they were made to repay Cohen for legal services.