NEW YORK, Feb  15, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - A New York judge on Thursday rejected 
Donald Trump's attempts to dismiss charges of covering up hush money payments 
to a porn star, setting the stage for the first criminal trial ever of a former 
US president to begin on March 25.

       At the same time, Trump's representatives attended a separate hearing in 
Atlanta, pushing to have the lead prosecutor bringing charges of election fraud 
and racketeering against Trump disqualified from the case.

       They are just two of four criminal cases facing the Republican frontrunner 
as he campaigns to retake the White House, with his legal teams thus far 
failing to push the actual trials until after the November 5 vote.

       Trump, who has seized on his legal woes to fire up his supporters and 
denounce Democratic opponent Joe Biden, reiterated his claim that the charges 
were "just a way of hurting me in the election."

       "How can you run for election if you are sitting in a courthouse in 
Manhattan all day long," he said as he arrived.

       In the courtroom, his legal team argued he would not receive a fair trial 
in New York because another Manhattan jury awarded $83 million to E. Jean 
Carroll, a writer whom Trump was found to have sexually assaulted and defamed.

       Judge Juan Merchan rejected that, as well as arguments by Trump's lawyers 
that there was too much media coverage for a jury to be unbiased.

       "Given all the information I have before me, we are moving ahead to jury 
selection on March 25," Merchan said.
       
       - 'Elephant in the room' -
    
              Trump, who wore a trademark red tie and dark suit, fidgeted in his seat as 
his lawyer argued with the judge and prosecutors over jury screening.

       "We can't ignore the elephant in the room -- Mr Trump is running for 
president... a juror's political affiliation is something we need to know and 
understand," said attorney Todd Blanche.

       The former president faces 34 counts of accounting fraud linked to payments 
to porn star Stormy Daniels.

       Prosecutors say that Trump illegally covered up remittances to longtime 
aide Michael Cohen to reimburse him for payments to bury stories about Trump's 
alleged extramarital sexual relations with Daniels and a Playboy model.

       Leaving the courthouse, Trump described the proceedings as a "disgrace."
       "It's a rigged state. It's a rigged city. It's a shame," he said.
       
       - Legal rollercoaster -
           
       Trump's lawyers were also representing him in Atlanta, Georgia, where he is 
accused of conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election, which he lost to Biden.

       That hearing seeks to have District Attorney Fani Willis dismissed from the 
case over an alleged relationship with another prosecutor.

       Trump's legal rollercoaster could continue on Friday if, as US media have 
reported, a ruling is issued in his civil fraud trial, in which he is accused 
of grossly inflating his property's values.

       In that case he risks having to pay up to $370 million and faces a ban from 
conducting business in New York state.

       And he also faces another possible trial alleging conspiracy to overturn 
the 2020 election in Washington.

       Trump has used his numerous court appearances to fuel his claims of being 
victimized as he campaigns for a return to the White House.

       The hush money case dates to the closing days of the 2016 election when 
Trump was on the cusp of his shock win as a political outsider against 
Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

       A New York grand jury indicted Trump in March 2023 over the payments made 
to Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.

       Prosecutors say the money was paid to silence Daniels over claims she had a 
tryst with Trump in 2006 -- a year after he married Melania Trump.

       Late in the campaign, Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen arranged a payment of 
$130,000 to Daniels in exchange for her pledge of confidentiality.

       Trump for years rejoiced in his reputation as a playboy but he denied the 
affair with Daniels, which would have occurred just after Melania, his third 
wife, gave birth.