Former President Donald Trump faced significant developments in his legal battles on Monday, with key movements occurring in the civil fraud and hush money cases against him.
In the hush money case, Trump is accused of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, for hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denied the alleged affair.
During a hearing in New York on Monday, Judge Juan Merchan announced that the criminal trial against Trump will commence on April 15, including jury selection. The judge rejected Trump's motion to dismiss the indictment or delay the trial.
In the civil fraud case, a New York appeals court ruled that Trump must post a $175 million bond while appealing the civil fraud judgment against him. He was granted an additional 10 days to post the bond.
This ruling provides a significant reprieve for the former president, who, along with his adult sons and his company, faced a fine of over $464 million. This penalty was due on Monday after Judge Arthur Engoron determined that Trump and his co-defendants had fraudulently inflated the value of his assets.
The court's decision temporarily prevents New York Attorney General Letitia James from seizing Trump's property to enforce the judgment against him.
