Former President Trump won’t be allowed to skip the phony hush money trial being brought against him by the corrupt Alvin Bragg in New York City, unless he has a good reason.
But those reasons don’t include seeing his son Barron graduate high school on Wednesday. It’s possible Trump may be able to attend but the judge won’t grant him that right now, saying it “really depends on if we are on time and where we are in the trial.”
Here’s more from Forbes:
Trump attorney Todd Blanche argued on Monday that Trump wants to be present for trial proceedings including sidebar conferences during the trial and voir dire—the initial examination of a witness or a juror.
Merchan, in response, cautioned Trump’s presence could also pose logistical challenges involving the Secret Service, warning that if Trump disrupts the proceedings, he could face jail time, meaning the trial would proceed in his absence.
The warning comes as prosecutors ask Merchan to find Trump in contempt for violating his gag order for criticizing potential witnesses on social media, and as Trump’s bids to delay the proceedings fall flat, including on Monday when Merchan denied Trump’s request for Merchan to recuse himself over claims Merchan is biased against Trump due to his daughter’s job at a marketing firm representing several Democratic candidates.
Merchan then warned the former president that he could also face an arrest warrant if he skips his trial without a reason—a statement given to defendants in New York known as the Parker Warning.
Earlier on Monday, Merchan refused to rule on Trump’s request to skip the trial on Wednesday for his son Barron Trump’s high school graduation, with Merchan saying that decision “really depends on if we are on time and where we are in the trial.”
It will be ridiculous if Trump can’t go to his own son’s graduation on Wednesday all because of this phony trial. You’d think the judge would just go ahead and grant Trump the time. After all, Trump’s lawyers will undoubtedly be present. But I guess this judge wants to make a name for himself off Trump, just like Engoron.