Africa Business News

The first-ever criminal trial of a former US president is set to start next month, with Donald Trump defending himself against allegations of conducting a hush-money cover-up. He appeared in court in New York seeking to have the trial dismissed or delayed however Judge Juan Merchan was not swayed by arguments that the trial's timetable would hurt his presidential campaign. Mr Trump called the decision to start the trial on 25 March a disgrace but the New York state judge says they were not rooted in law and that he would only delay for legal reasons. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has charged the former president with 34 counts of fraud, alleging Mr Trump falsified business records to disguise payments he made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels as legal fees.