In an eleventh-hour move, former President Donald Trump is seeking to delay his upcoming criminal trial in New York and have the case moved out of Manhattan. Trump's legal team filed a motion on Monday, just a week before the trial is set to begin on April 15.

The motion challenges the venue of the trial and requests a loosening of the restrictions placed on Trump's speech. The appeal will be heard by a judge at New York's Appellate Division.

One of the key issues raised in the motion is the recently expanded gag order, which now includes restrictions on Trump discussing the case, not only by himself but also by his family. The order now covers Judge Juan Merchan's family and the family of District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Trump's targeting of Judge Merchan's daughter on social media, due to her involvement with a group associated with Democratic politics, led to the expansion of the gag order. The judge's family and the district attorney's family are now included to protect them from any undue influence or harassment.

The former president is facing a total of 34 felony counts for allegedly falsifying business records. These charges stem from a hush money payment made by Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen, to adult film star Stormy Daniels just days before the 2016 presidential election.

Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, pleaded not guilty to the charges in April of last year.

The trial promises to be a closely watched event, with national and international attention focused on the proceedings. The outcome of the trial could have significant implications for Trump's political future.

As of now, the case remains scheduled to begin on April 15. However, with the latest legal challenge, it is possible that there could be further delays or changes to the trial process. This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.