A New York appeals court judge has denied former President Donald Trump's motion for an interim stay pending a change of venue appeal for his criminal trial. This decision comes as the latest development in Trump's efforts to halt the hush money trial just before opening statements, which are scheduled to begin on Monday.
Judge Marsha Michael presided over a hastily arranged hearing on Friday afternoon, where she allowed five minutes for each side to present their arguments. Despite Trump's request for a temporary halt to the trial proceedings, the judge ruled against granting an interim stay.
Trump's legal team had sought to delay the trial pending an appeal for a change of venue, but the judge's decision means that the trial will proceed as planned. The hush money trial involves allegations that Trump orchestrated payments to two women to keep them silent about alleged affairs before the 2016 presidential election.
The denial of Trump's motion for an interim stay marks a setback for the former president's legal strategy in this case. With opening statements set to begin on Monday, the trial is expected to move forward without further delays.
Trump's legal team may explore other avenues for challenging the trial proceedings, but for now, the focus remains on the upcoming opening statements and the start of the hush money trial. The decision by the appeals court judge to deny the interim stay request underscores the importance of adhering to the trial schedule and allowing the legal process to unfold.
