Manhattan prosecutors have requested a delay of up to 30 days in Donald Trump's hush-money trial, citing the need to review recently produced documents. The trial, which was initially scheduled to begin later this month in New York, revolves around allegations that Trump directed his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to pay adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 in hush money prior to the 2016 election.

In a motion presented to the court, the district attorney's office revealed that approximately 31,000 pages of additional records were presented by the US Attorneys' Offices (USAO). Prosecutors stated that these records appear to pertain to the subject matter of the case, including materials that were requested more than a year ago and initially denied by the USAO.

The trial is focused on the accusation that Trump falsely recorded his reimbursement to Cohen as legal expenses and attempted to keep Daniels from revealing their alleged decade-old sexual encounter. Prosecutors have also stated their intention to introduce evidence of a "pressure campaign" by Trump in 2018 to prevent Cohen from cooperating with a federal investigation into the payment.

While Trump's attorneys sought a postponement of up to 90 days, prosecutors argued that such a lengthy delay was unnecessary. In their motion, the district attorney's office highlighted that the timing of the new document production from the USAO was a result of the defendant's own delay. They noted that Trump waited until January 18, 2024, to subpoena additional materials from the USAO and subsequently agreed to multiple extensions of the deadline for the USAO's determination.

In light of the significant volume of new records and their potential relevance to the case, the district attorney's office now seeks adequate time to thoroughly analyze the materials before proceeding with the trial. The court will consider both sides' arguments and determine the length of the delay.

The delay in Trump's hush-money trial signifies the ongoing legal battle surrounding the former president's alleged involvement in the illicit payment to Stormy Daniels. As the review of new records continues, the outcome of the trial remains uncertain, with implications for Trump's legal standing and potential consequences for his political career.