In a recent development, a California resident and supporter of former President Donald Trump failed in his attempt to halt Trump's ongoing hush money trial in New York.
The resident had earlier this month filed a lawsuit alleging that the trial was infringing upon his voter rights.
Trump is currently facing trial in New York, accused of falsifying business records to hide hush money payments made by his former attorney, Michael Cohen, to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump, widely considered the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee, has denied Daniels' allegations and pleaded not guilty to all 34 felony counts in the case brought forward by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The jury began deliberations on their verdict this past Wednesday.
William Frank Perron of Los Angeles filed a lawsuit on May 15 against several defendants, including Bragg and Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the case. Perron contends that the trial against Trump constitutes an act of voter suppression, according to documents obtained by Newsweek.
In his lawsuit, Perron claims that Trump's trial is "unlawfully causing immediate, irreparable injury" to his voter rights. He argues that he is unable to attend a Trump rally and is exposed to news media that favors current President Joe Biden. Perron further alleges that his voter rights are affected by a gag order placed on Trump, which prevents the former president from publicly discussing individuals associated with the trial.
Perron requested a stay on the trial until after the 2024 election. He expressed his discontent with the daily news coverage of the case, citing media organizations such as CNN, NBC News, BBC, ABC 7, and MSNBC.
Perron also claimed that Trump's opportunity to appear in California or other states is "greatly diminished" due to his required presence at the New York trial.
U.S. District Judge George Wu, presiding over Perron's lawsuit, dismissed the case on May 21. "The crux of Perron's allegationsas disjointedly presented as they may beis that the ongoing New York criminal trial amounts to voter suppression," Wu wrote in the dismissal.
"Perron perceives that because Trump is on trial several days a week in New York, he is unable to 'vet' Trump's candidacy in violation of his freedom to assemble and is instead being 'deluged' with misinformation about Trump, all of which advantages Trump's political opponent, President Joe Biden."
The judge dismissed the case for several reasons, including the "glaring deficiency" that Perron lacks standing in the case. The court also argued that it does not have jurisdiction over the defendants in Perron's lawsuit.
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