NEW YORK (AP) Attorneys for President-elect Donald Trump formally requested on Monday that a judge overturn his criminal conviction for hush money, claiming that pursuing the case will cause unlawful disruptions to the presidency.
In a document released on Tuesday, Trump’s attorneys informed Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan that the unique circumstances surrounding his upcoming return to the White House justify his discharge.
The lawyers went on to say that President Trump’s transition operations are hampered by the improper continuation of this failed lawfare lawsuit, before pointing to the huge national mandate that the American people gave him on November 5, 2024.
The deadline for the prosecution’s response is December 9. Although they have stated that they will oppose any attempts to have the case dismissed, they have also expressed a willingness to postpone sentence until 2029, when Trump’s second term expires.
Merchan suspended proceedings and indefinitely postponed Trump’s sentencing, which was originally planned for late November, after the election last month so that the prosecution and defense could comment on the case’s future. Additionally, he postponed a ruling on Trump’s earlier attempt to have the case dismissed on the grounds of immunity.
The verdict, which entailed attempts to hide a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, whose affair claims threatened to sabotage Trump’s 2016 campaign, had been overturned for months. Any wrongdoing has been disputed by him.
Trump will take office on January 20. There is no deadline for a decision established by Merchan.
Trump would avoid the stigma of a criminal record and perhaps jail time if he were dismissed, which would nullify his historic conviction. Trump is the first convicted criminal to be elected president and the first former president to have a criminal conviction.
Alternatively, Merchan may decide to wait for a federal appeals court to rule on Trump’s simultaneous attempt to have the case moved out of state court, delay the case until Trump leaves office, affirm the verdict and proceed with sentencing, or take some other course of action.
The Associated Press, 2024. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. It is prohibited to publish, broadcast, rewrite, or redistribute this content without authorization.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!