Trump’s bid to delay ‘hush money’ trial shot down for third time in three days

Donald Trump’s bid to delay his “hush money” criminal trial was shot down Wednesday — the third time in three days that such an attempt was rejected by a New York appeals court.

Justice Ellen Gesmer’s ruling marks another blow for Trump, who had sought to overturn a ruling dismissing his bid for Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan to recuse himself from the case — which is set to go to trial on Monday.

The Republican presidential hopeful was also seeking to overturn a ruling that found he wasn’t exempt from the criminal charges on the grounds of presidential immunity.

Trump’s lawyers argued in court papers earlier Wednesday that Merchan didn’t have the💖 authority to make the prior rulings.&nbs𝓡p;

Lawyers for the former commander-in-chief have filed a flurry of court papers both with Merchan and with New York’s Appellate Division, First Department in the last two weeks seeking to block the trial from going forward before the November elections. 

On Friday, Trump asked the appeals court to move the trial out of a majority-Democratic Manhattan and to pause Merchan’s gag order barring Trump from publicly going after witnesses and the judge’s family.

Following oral arguments Monday, a First Department judge rejected Trump’s 11th-hour bid to push back the April 15 trial date — that will begin with jury selection.

A different judge on Tuesday denied Trump’s request to delay the trial as he fights a gag order Merchan imposed on him in recent weeks.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s Office, which is prosecuting the case, has accused Trump’s side of “last ditch” attempts at pausing the trial “indefinitely.”

Trump has p♔leaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in con𝓡nection to trying to cover up a payment to ex-porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about their alleged affair ahead of the 2016 election.

Trump faces up to four years in prison if convic🎉ted.

The DA’s Office declined to comment Wednesday.

With Post wires