Donald’s lawyers want university trial postponed till January 20

Donald Trump’s attorneys want the upcoming trial on Trump University postponed until after his swearing-in as the US President, a media report said on Sunday amid indications that the case could be settled out of court.

Trump’s attorneys filed a motion last night in federal court in San Diego asking for the trial date to be continued from November 28 to a date after the Presidential inauguration on January 20, CNN reported. They argue that such a postponement is most important for the President-elect because he must not be impeded from pursuing the arduous presidential transition.

“This is an unprecedented circumstance,” the attorneys said in their motion. Trump University is the defunct, for-profit real estate school accused by former students of fraud. Trump remains at the center of three civil cases filed against his controversial education business venture, including the one scheduled for trial in San Diego on November 28. 

“The 69 days until inauguration are critical and all- consuming. President-Elect Trump must receive daily security briefings, make executive appointments (ultimately, thousands), and establish relationships with appointees, members of Congress, governors and foreign leaders. He must also develop important policy priorities,” attorneys said. 

“Now that the election is over, we submit that the President-Elect should not be required to stand trial during the next two months while he prepares to assume the Presidency. The time and attention to prepare and testify will take him away from imperative transition work at a critical time.” The motion says the plaintiffs have “a right to trial of their claims, but their rights will not be abridged if trial were continued to a date after the inauguration.” 

Trump isn’t “seeking to stay this case indefinitely,” but requests a “modest continuance” to after the inauguration, the motion said. The lawyers also offered another recommendation: recorded testimony in January before the inauguration. It could be used for the November 28 trial and another case expected to go to trial while Trump is the sitting president. The attorneys say they want to avoid Trump testifying on two separate occasions.

“In this way, the Court minimises the intrusion on the President-Elect, preserves his trial testimony, and guarantees plaintiffs their day in court without regard to a sitting President’s unpredictable schedule,” the attorneys said. Just hours after Trump met with President Barack Obama on Thursday, lawyers for the President-elect appeared in court to prepare for the upcoming trial on Trump University.