The Voice of America reveals details, a date is set for the trial of former President Donald Trump

A judge on Tuesday set March 25, 2024, as a preliminary date for a trial against former President Donald Trump, which would coincide with the height of the season for the presidential candidate within the Republican Party.

The judge announced the date in a hearing that Mr. Trump attended via video. He pleaded not guilty last month to 34 counts of falsifying business records.

In Tuesday's hearing, Manhattan District Judge Juan Merchan considered an order barring former President Trump from publicly releasing some evidence submitted by prosecutors.

Mr. Trump was allowed not to appear in person in court to avoid the huge security and logistical challenges that accompanied his indictment last month.

The former Republican president can speak publicly about the criminal case, according to Judge Merchan's order, but he could be held liable for contempt of court if he uses evidence provided by prosecutors against witnesses or other people involved in the case.

Mr. Trump pleaded not guilty on April 4 to 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments his company made to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen.

Prosecutors say the payments were intended to reimburse and compensate Mr. Cohen for making payments in exchange for silence during the 2016 campaign regarding allegations of extramarital affairs. Mr Trump denies having an extramarital affair and says the prosecution is politically motivated.

Judge Merchan's order prohibits Mr. Trump and his lawyers from releasing evidence to third parties or posting it on social media, and requires that some sensitive material shared by prosecutors be kept only by Mr. Trump's lawyers, not himself .

Prokurorët kërkuan urdhrin nga gjykata menjëherë pas arrestimit të zotit Trump, duke përmendur atë që ata thonë se është prirja e tij për të bërë “deklarata ngacmuese, që vënë njerëzit në pozitë dhe kërcënuese” për njerëz me të cilët është angazhuara në mosmarrëveshje ligjore.

Gjykatësi Merchan, duke vënë në dukje statusin “të veçantë” të zotit Trump si ish-president dhe kandidat aktual, e ka bërë të qartë se urdhri mbrojtës nuk duhet të interpretohet si një urdhër për t’i mbyllur atij gojën dhe se zoti Trump ka të drejtë të mbrohet publikisht.

Avokatët e ish-presidentit Trump po kërkojnë që çështja e tij penale të transferohet në gjykatën federale. Derisa të vendoset nëse një gjë e tillë do të pranohet, ajo do të vazhdojë në gjykatën shtetërore. /VOA