Former President Donald Trump will try to move the criminal case brought by the Manhattan district attorney's office into federal court, his attorneys said Thursday.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records.
Defense attorney Todd Blanche informed the judge of the impending motion at the conclusion of a hearing about a protective order in the case. Prosecutors did not immediately address it.
MORE: Timeline: Manhattan district attorney case against Donald Trump
At Thursday's hearing, Judge Juan Merchan asked both sides to agree to a trial date in either February or March 2024, meaning Trump's criminal trial would occur in the thick of his third campaign for president.
Once the date is set, the judge said no one associated with the case, including Trump, should schedule anything to interfere.
"He cannot agree to any speaking engagements, appearances," Merchan said.
Former President Donald Trump gestures to members of the media on the tarmac after disembarking his plane at Aberdeen airport on the north-east coast of Scotland on May 1, 2023.Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images
Merchan said he would impose an order to prevent Trump from attacking individuals associated with the case or speaking about specific evidence obtained through discovery, but said he would not stop Trump from speaking generally about the case.
"I'm straining to give him every opportunity to make his candidacy," Merchan said. "This is not a gag order."
Once the terms of the protective order are satisfied, the district attorney's office successfully requested a public reading of it to Trump. Merchan agreed to a virtual hearing Trump will have to attend so he understands the parameters of the protective order.
MORE: Trump should not be subject to 'muzzle' regarding indictment, his attorneys say
Assistant District Attorney Catherine McCaw said Trump "has an extensive history" of making inflammatory remarks about witnesses, prosecutors and others associated with legal matters pending against him. However, she said, Trump will continue to have "many avenues" to discuss the case.
Blanche said he did not object to an order "limiting dissemination" of evidence by Trump on social media but he insisted Trump's public defense "may include commentary on evidence."
"Obviously Mr. Trump is different," Merchan conceded. "It would be foolish of me to say he isn't. He's a former president and he's running again."
The judge added that Trump's special status comes with a responsibility to recognize "his words do have consequences."
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
