The hype around Trump's hush money trial is heating up as a New York appeals court just shut down his bid to change the trial venue. His legal team made a last-minute attempt to postpone the trial, arguing that Trump couldn't get a fair shake in New York. But Associate Justice Lizbeth González swiftly tossed out the request, keeping the trial on track to start next week.
Trump's lawyers also took a swing at a gag order imposed by Judge Juan Merchan, which bars Trump from talking about witnesses, court staff, or even the DA's office. They're clearly pulling out all the stops to tilt the odds in their favor, but the court didn't bite. The appellate court's decision means jury selection will kick off as scheduled on April 15 in Manhattan.
During the hearing, Trump's attorney Emil Bove trotted out a survey and media study to argue for a change of venue, claiming the case has been blown out of proportion in New York. But the Manhattan District Attorney's Office wasn't having it. Chief of Appeals Steven Wu shot back, saying Trump's team was way off base with their claims and that they should've raised these issues earlier in the process.
Wu argued that the publicity surrounding the case doesn't automatically mean bias, pointing out that most coverage has been fair and balanced. He also noted that Trump himself has been a major source of the publicity, so he can't cry foul now. The bottom line: the trial stays put in New York, and Trump will have to face the music starting next week.
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