It’s easy to forget that former President Donald Trump’s schedule between now and November was supposed to be completely packed with courthouse appearances as back-to-back trials played out for weeks at a time. Instead, the jury in the Manhattan criminal trial may be the only one he faces in 2024, leaving what was seen by some as the biggest long shot of four criminal cases against him as the only chance of a jury’s convicting Trump before Election Day.
Whatever decision a majority winds up reaching, the delay in publishing an opinion has forced Smith to sit on his hands and wait before the district court proceedings can continue. Trump has been able to bring those scattershot arguments forward only because of the biggest advantage in his corner: money. He has been able to turn a fire hose of money toward the lawyers who’ve been willing to have him as a client.