A New York judge rejected claims by Trump’s lawyers that as a former US president he was immune from prosecution.
A US judge has rejected a request from Donald Trump’s lawyers to overturn the president-elect’s hush money conviction because the Supreme Court has ruled that former presidents are immune from prosecution.
New York Judge Juan Merchan said Monday that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to grant immunity for “official actions” does not apply to testimony in Trump’s trial that “related solely to unofficial conduct that does not confer immunity protection.” “.
Merchan’s ruling is the latest development in the long-running case against the president-elect, whose verdict is still pending.
In May, a New York jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business documents in connection with a $130,000 payment to an adult film actress Stormy Daniels in advance of the 2016 presidential election.
Prosecutors convinced a jury that Trump’s payments were intended to cover up a scandal that damaged his 2016 campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton, whom he ultimately defeated.
Trump’s sentencing was originally scheduled for July 11, but was later postponed to November 26.
After Trump’s victory on November 5, 2024 Presidential electionTrump’s lawyers urged Merchan to dismiss the case “to facilitate the orderly transition of executive power – and in the interests of justice.”
New York prosecutors have said they are willing to delay sentencing until after Trump’s second term as president, but have pushed back against calls from his lawyer that the case should be thrown out entirely.
Trump could face up to four years in prison for each crime, although court observers say it is unlikely he would face prison rather than probation or community service.
Trump’s second term as president officially begins on January 20, 2025. He is the first former or current US president to do so accused and convicted of a crime.
The hush money case is just one of several legal cases in which the former reality TV star has been involved.
End of November: US special investigator Jack Smith requested dismissal two criminal cases in which Trump was accused of attempting to do so overturn his 2020 election defeat and misuse of secret government documents, citing his imminent return to the White House.
Also last month, Trump’s lawyers separately asked New York Attorney General Letitia James to overturn a civil fraud conviction against him and a $464 million penalty “for the good of the country” as he prepares to return to power prepared.
In a letter posted on social media to Trump’s lawyer John Sauer, New York Assistant Attorney General Judith Vale rejected the request.
