Trump again demands delay in hush money case amid court filing 'blitz': report

Former President Donald Trump's legal team filed yet another appeal in his criminal hush money case linked to his presidential immunity claim, according to a new report.

The appeal filed Wednesday also challenges Judge Juan Merchan, whose "refusal" to recuse himself Trump's lawyers condemn, CNN reports.

Trump's legal team reportedly filed a two-page notice in which they argue the New York City criminal court judge exceeded his authority in a public docket ruling and gag order demand, then request an appeals court hearing in May.

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CNN appears to have gotten a long-shot glimpse at a court filing that first appeared publicly online, then was sealed.

"The filings are the latest in a blitz to throw sand in the gears of the trial," CNN's Kara Scannell writes. "Trump’s lawyers earlier this week asked the appeals court to stop the trial over pretrial publicity and the gag order. Both times, the requests to take emergency steps to delay the trial were swiftly denied."

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in a scheme, as contended by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, to pay hush money to adult film start Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election, court records show.

The trial has been scheduled to head to court Monday after a previous effort earned Trump a 20-day delay. The former president had sought to dismiss the case entirely and was reportedly left "not happy" by Merchan's ruling.

Two further delay attempts were denied on Monday and Tuesday by two different judges.

This is one of four criminal trials the former president, and presumptive Republican nominee, faces.