After weeks of complaining that his hush money trial would stop him attending his youngest son’s high school graduation, Donald Trump’s judge finally agreed to pause the trial for a day — and the ex-president swiftly organized a fundraiser.
Trump is now expected to speak at the Minnesota Republican Party’s Lincoln Reagan dinner on May 17 — the day Barron Trump graduates.
It’s not known if he will be at the graduation ceremony in Florida prior to his Minnesota appearance.
For days, Judge Juan Merchan had warned Trump that he had to attend every day of the trial, or face consequences — including possible imprisonment.
Trump had used that to argue of the injustice of his being forced to miss Barron’s event because he was the victim of what he calls a “witch hunt.”
“Who will explain for me, to my wonderful son, Barron, who is a GREAT Student at a fantastic School, that his Dad will likely not be allowed to attend his Graduation Ceremony, something that we have been talking about for years, because a seriously Conflicted and Corrupt New York State Judge wants me in Criminal Court on a bogus ‘Biden Case’ which, according to virtually all Legal Scholars and Pundits, has no merit, and should NEVER have been brought,” Trump raged on Truth Social.
Eventually Merchan ruled that the court wouldn’t sit on that day, saying “I don’t think May 17 is a problem.”
Trump is facing 34 felony charges of business fraud involving hush money payments allegedly made to an adult movie actress to cover up a sexual relationship ahead of the 2016 election.
The Minnesota event was announced by the radio station KFGO, and reported by Newsweek.
“We are thrilled to welcome President Trump back to Minnesota to headline our Lincoln Reagan dinner, an annual tradition that reminds us of the roots of our Party and the leaders who have been most impactful in promoting our American values,” the state’s GOP chair David Hann said.