[UPDATE] Donald Trump's Lawyers Make Final Appeal To Delay 1st Criminal Trial, Lashes Out at Jack Smith

Donald Trump's lawyers are now making their last appeal to delay the first criminal trial of the former U.S. president. Before them, the ex-POTUS himself also made his final pitch on Thursday, Feb. 15.

The former American leader tried encouraging the U.S. Supreme Court to pause a trial over the election subversion charges, which were filed against by special counsel Jack Smith.

Donald Trump claimed that there are "overwhelming reasons" why the criminal trial should not move forward in three months or less. Now, his lawyers also believe that the case should not go to trial.

Donald Trump's Lawyers Make Final Appeal To Delay 1st Criminal Trial

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Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to a crowd during a campaign rally on September 25, 2023 in Summerville, South Carolina. The Former U.S. President has a strong lead in the polls over his Republican challengers.

According to USA Today's latest report, Donald Trump's lawyers lashed out at special counsel Jack Smith for pushing for a speed trial and rejecting the former president's request to delay it.

"As before, there is no mystery about the Special Counsel's motivation," said Trump's lawyers.

"Commentators across the political spectrum point to the obvious," they added.

Donald Trump's lawyers argued that Jack Smith only wants to push the criminal trial and secure a conviction against the former POTUS because he is the leading candidate against U.S. President Joe Biden.

They further stated that what Jack Smith is doing goes against the U.S. Department of Justice's long-standing prohibitions against prosecutors who are timing their actions to influence U.S. elections.

Donald Trump has been accusing the four sets of criminal trials against him of simply intervening with his reelection presidential campaign. However, critics said that the former president doesn't have evidence to prove that state and federal officials are targeting his White House bid.

Donald Trump's 1st Criminal Trial Already Scheduled

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Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump mocks U.S. President Joe Biden while speaking during a Get Out The Vote rally at Coastal Carolina University on February 10, 2024 in Conway, South Carolina. South Carolina holds its Republican primary on February 24.

Politico reported that Donald Trump's first criminal trial was already scheduled for Mar. 25, as ruled by Justice Juan Merchan on Thursday, Feb. 15.

The judge denied the former president's efforts to delay the case, which alleges him of making hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.

This means that Donald Trump needs to attend the trial for around six weeks. Among the charges it faces are 34 felony counts of falsifying business records connected to the hush money payments.

The ex-POTUS is accused of arranging these payments through an intermediary during the closing weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign.

"The charged crimes strike at the heart of our democracy," said Jack Smith.

"The public interest in a prompt trial is at its zenith where, as here, a former president is charged with conspiring to subvert the electoral process so that he could remain in office," he added.