Donald Trump on Wednesday lost his 11th bid to delay his New York hush money trial, which now remains on track for jury selection Monday.
A Manhattan appellate judge, Associate Justice Ellen Gesmer, did not give a reason for declining Trump’s delay bid, which argued that too many defense issues — including a request that the judge recuse himself — remain unresolved.
Barring any other wrench-throwing by Trump’s legal team, the presumptive GOP presidential candidate will now face his first of four pending felony trials in state court in Manhattan.
Prosecutors allege he falsified 34 business documents to hide a $130,000 hush-money payment that influenced the 2016 election by silencing porn star Stormy Daniels just 11 days before the nation voted.
Wednesday’s trip to an appellate court in Manhattan, for brief but earnest arguments by both sides, was Trump’s third bid to pause the trial in as many days.
It’s his 11th attempt overall, by prosecutors’ count. Only one of his attempts succeeded, though it only forestalled the start date by three weeks.
In this latest try, Trump attorney Emil Bove argued that jury selection should not go forward while the trial judge, state Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, had yet to decide two pending defense motions.
One yet-decided defense motion asks Merchan to recuse himself from the case.
The other defense motion challenges Merchan’s recent rule that neither side can file a new pretrial motion without first seeking his permission in the form of a one-page letter.
Bove additionally said a delay is necessary so that the defense can appeal Merchan’s decision on presidential immunity.
Arguing for prosecutors, appellate lawyer Steven Wu countered that the defense efforts are coming too late.
“They could have filed this at any time,” he argued, complaining Trump’s lawyers have “inundated the court with belated filings.”
Trump lost his 10th attempt to delay the trial on Tuesday, also in the appellate court in Manhattan.
His 9th bid was lost Monday, also in that courthouse.
