NEW YORK, Feb 15, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Donald Trump is expected in court Thursday ahead of a trial for illegally covering up hush money payments made to hide extramarital affairs, including with porn star Stormy Daniels.

The hearing in New York will see Trump's legal team attempt to have the case thrown out. One of the Republican's lawyers indicated that the former president -- who will almost certainly be the party's nominee in November's election -- will attend.

Procedural matters will also be addressed before Judge Juan Merchan, including whether the trial will begin on March 25 as scheduled.
That date could change owing to scheduling conflicts with Trump's other criminal cases.

If Merchan rejects Trump's bid to quash the case, the 77-year-old former president will face a jury on 34 counts of accounting fraud linked to payments to Daniels.

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

Trump has previously attacked Merchan insisting on his Truth Social platform that the judge "HATES ME."

- Legal rollercoaster -

Thursday will also see a hearing related to the criminal case in Georgia against Trump, where he is accused of conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election, which he lost to current President Joe Biden.

And 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.

He faces another possible trial alleging conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election in Washington.

Trump has used his numerous legal woes to generate heated media coverage.
He has also co-opted them 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 seasoned 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, a former model.

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.