Donald Trump hush-money trial date set for March 2024

Donald Trump volition look a transgression proceedings successful March 2024, a New York justice has ruled, arsenic the Republican's run for the statesmanlike information volition beryllium successful afloat swing.

The erstwhile US president received the quality astatine a proceeding connected Tuesday successful the lawsuit astir the alleged concealment of a outgo to a porn star.

Mr Trump was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying concern records.

He pleaded not blameworthy to each complaint past month.

After the hearing, Mr Trump aired his frustrations astatine the timing of the proceedings connected his societal network, Truth Social.

"They forced upon america a proceedings day of March 25th, close successful the mediate of the superior season," Mr Trump wrote, adding it was "very unfair" and "election interference".

The station appeared conscionable hours aft Judge Juan Merchan said restrictions connected what Mr Trump tin bash and accidental successful narration to the lawsuit would not restrict his quality to campaign.

Judge Merchan said Mr Trump "is surely escaped to contradict the charges, helium is escaped to support himself against the charges."

Mr Trump has agelong since decried the lawsuit arsenic a "political Witch-Hunt, trying to instrumentality down the starring candidate, by far, successful the Republican Party".

March 2024 is acceptable to beryllium a engaged period for Mr Trump and the different candidates vying to go the Republican statesmanlike candidate.

Candidates zig-zag crossed the US for a bid of conventions, primaries and caucuses successful each US authorities and territory, opening successful aboriginal states similar Iowa successful February and ending successful oregon astir aboriginal June.

The latest proceeding was the 2nd clip Mr Trump appeared successful tribunal for the case. 

He was archetypal arrested and appeared successful a New York courtroom successful April, wherever helium was charged with 34 felony counts of fraud successful a 16-page indictment.

These charges subordinate to a $130,000 (£105,000) outgo made to big movie actress, Stormy Daniels, who says she was paid to enactment quiescent aft having enactment with him.

Providing alleged hush wealth is not illegal, but the lawsuit against Mr Trump centres astir however his erstwhile lawyer, who paid Ms Daniels, had his reimbursement recorded successful Mr Trump's accounts.

Mr Trump is accused of falsifying his concern records successful the archetypal grade by saying the outgo was for ineligible fees.

It is alleged the payments were intended "to conceal damaging accusation and unlawful enactment from American voters earlier and aft the 2016 election".

The lawsuit is 1 of respective ineligible woes faced by Mr Trump.

Earlier successful May, a New York civilian proceedings assemblage recovered Mr Trump liable for the defamation and intersexual battle of E Jean Carroll, a erstwhile Elle mag columnist, and ordered him to wage her astir $5m successful damages.