An appeals court has rejected a delay requested by Donald Trump in the criminal trial against the former US president in connection with an alleged hush money payment made to a porn actress, according to US media reports.
Judge Lizbeth Gonzalez rejected the request late Monday afternoon after hearing arguments from Trump's lawyers and the prosecution, media reported.
The criminal trial against Trump is the first against a former US president and is scheduled to begin next Monday in New York with jury selection.
According to media reports, Trump's lawyers are also trying to delay the start of the trial with other motions, including a lawsuit against the judge in charge, Juan Merchan, before an appeals court.
They are also said to be fighting against the restrictions imposed by the judge on Trump's public statements about witnesses, jurors and employees of the judiciary.
The criminal charges against Trump in New York are related to roughly $130,000 that was paid by Trump's attorney Michael Cohen to porn actress Stormy Daniels in 2016, shortly before his election as president.
Daniels had claimed to have had sex with Trump, who denies the affair but not that money was paid. Non-disclosure agreements between two parties are not illegal.
Cohen served time in prison for his role in the scheme after pleading guilty of violating US campaign finance law.
Trump faces criminal charges of falsifying business records in an alleged attempt to hide the payments. He has pleaded not guilty.
