Judge Denies Trump’s Claim of Presidential Immunity in Hush Money Case
New York Judge Denies Trump’s Claim of Presidential Immunity in Hush Money Case
Source: Oleg Nikishin / Getty
A New York judge has upheld President-elect Donald Trump’s state court conviction, rejecting his argument to overturn the case based on a Supreme Court ruling that granted him immunity for official acts. Justice Juan Merchan ruled that the evidence used during Trump’s trial pertained to “entirely unofficial conduct,” which falls outside the Supreme Court’s July decision on presidential immunity.
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Merchan also noted that even if there had been errors in admitting some evidence, they were “harmless in light of the overwhelming evidence of guilt.” The decision follows a spring trial in which a jury unanimously convicted Trump of 34 felonies related to falsifying business records. These charges stemmed from a scheme to reimburse Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney, for a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Daniels alleged the payment was meant to keep her silent about an affair with Trump, which he denies.
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Trump, the first former president to face criminal trial and later regain the presidency, has argued that his reelection demands the dismissal of the case. His legal team also claimed that testimony from former White House staff was improperly admitted under the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling. However, Merchan ruled that Trump’s lawyers did not object to this evidence during the trial. He further emphasized that acts related to concealing payments were unofficial and posed no threat to the presidency.
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Prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office opposed Trump’s motions, arguing that no law exempts state convictions due to a defendant’s political office. They maintained that the disputed testimony was a “sliver of the mountains” of evidence presented at trial.
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Trump has vowed to appeal both the conviction and Merchan’s ruling on presidential immunity. In a statement, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung called the decision a “direct violation” of the Supreme Court’s precedent and part of a “witch hunt” against Trump. Cheung urged the case’s dismissal, claiming it interferes with Trump’s ability to carry out his duties as president-elect.
This ruling underscores ongoing legal challenges Trump faces amid his political resurgence, as he and his allies continue to label such cases as politically motivated attempts to derail his presidency.
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