This week saw yet another development in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's effort at prosecuting former President Donald Trump over an alleged pay-off to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

On Thursday, Judge Juan Merchan refused a request by the former president to have his charges dismissed. 

Merchan has spoken with judge in D.C. case

According to the Daily Mail, Trump "scowled" in the courtroom as Merchan said that the trial would begin on March 25 as planned.

Merchan also acknowledged that he had spoken with District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, who is overseeing Trump's federal case in Washington D.C. on charges related to his conduct following the 2020 presidential election.

Trump's D.C. trial had been set to start on March 4 but its schedule was derailed earlier this year after the former president claimed to enjoy immunity for actions he took while in office.

While that argument has been rejected by Chutkan along with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Trump has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court.

Trump says Bragg should focus on violent crime

For his part, Trump voiced indignation over his charges and aimed criticism over how Bragg has failed to control New York's crime problem.

"This is not a crime — and when you look at what's going on outside on the streets, where violent crime is at an all time high, it's a great double standard... what it is is election interference. It's being run by Joe Biden's White House," Trump was quoted as telling reporters outside the courthouse.

"I love this city and I love this state. They have to focus on violent crime... You have a new form of crime now, you have migrant crime," he continued.

"Migrants are trying to beat up our police officers... and they're after me for doing nothing wrong," the former president complained.

Fani Willis engulfed in growing scandal

Meanwhile, things may be looking up for Trump in his Georgia election case as Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is facing growing scrutiny over her relationship with attorney Nathan Wade.

Willis addressed allegations of impropriety during a hearing on Thursday, with former U.S. Attorney John Malcolm suggesting that her performance could prove to be a liability.

"She has been belligerent and argumentative. It is hard to tell what impact this will have on Judge McAfee as he evaluates her credibility," Malcolm told Fox News.

"One thing that seems difficult to swallow is her claim that she paid her paramour — Nathan Wade — in cash to reimburse him for expenses related to luxury trips they took together," Malcolm remarked, adding that the lack of records makes her claims seem suspicious.