Donald Trump’s latest legal maneuver seeks to shift his New York criminal case to federal court, a move that could delay his sentencing and impact the presidential race. Also known as the hush money trial, his conviction stems from 34 counts related to payments made before the 2016 election. Allegedly, Trump made a payment to former pornstar Stormy Daniels to not report a fling the two had in 2006. The defense argues the jury improperly considered presidential actions protected by immunity.
Trump Seeks Federal Court Intervention
Donald Trump, convicted on 34 felony charges for hush money payments, is appealing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He argues that his presidential acts, shielded by the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity, were inappropriately presented as evidence. Trump’s team claims that the payments relate to private business records and should not fall within state jurisdiction.
The legal team further contends that state law cannot override federal protections afforded to acts during Trump’s presidency. The case has seen prior setbacks after U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein labeled the hush money as a private act, outside his executive duties. Trump’s attorneys are pushing for a reevaluation of this decision, claiming it contradicts legal precedents.
Trump is going on trial today for a “hush money” payment over an affair Stormy Daniels admitted never happened
Complete abuse of the justice system pic.twitter.com/RdWZlspqgV
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) April 15, 2024
Challenges in the Legal Process
Judge Hellerstein previously denied Trump’s request to move the criminal proceedings to federal court, interpreting the payments as personal and not presidential. Trump’s appeal accuses this judgment of misinterpretation and insists that political biases and judicial conflicts must be addressed. The defense highlights urgency, as the scheduled November 26 sentencing looms near.
“Nothing in the Supreme Court’s opinion affects my previous conclusion that the hush money payments were private, unofficial acts, outside the bounds of executive authority,” Judge Hellerstein wrote.
Trump’s legal team argues that only federal courts can accurately adjudicate presidential immunity claims. They seek a “fair and orderly litigation” under federal oversight, emphasizing that rushing ahead with sentencing could cause “irreparable harm” to their argument. The team also contends insufficient time remains for federal review before November.
TRUMP NOT HIDING HUSH MONEY!
ALVIN BRAGG, MIKE COLANGELO SHOULD BE DISBARRED!
JUST IN: It appears the prosecution just destroyed their entire case in the Trump hush money trial! Trump comptroller, Jeff McConney, just testified that he is the one who instructed the accounting… pic.twitter.com/43JVBln2sA
— TRUTH NOW ⭐️⭐️⭐️🗽 (@sxdoc) May 6, 2024
Potential Implications of Case Transfer
Transferring the case to federal court may profoundly impact the trial’s outcome, allowing a dismissal if Trump regains the presidency. Additionally, it could affect the timeline of legal proceedings, providing Trump more leverage in navigating judicial hurdles. The outcome of the appeal could also determine the legitimacy of using presidential acts as legal defenses. His team seeks to exclude specific trial evidence to fortify this stance.
As the November 12 ruling on the immunity claim approaches, the political landscape remains highly attentive to developments in Trump’s legal journey. The potential for appellate decisions to alter his sentencing or charges underscores the gravity of these legal proceedings. Trump’s attorneys continue advocating for evidence refinement and argue for a federal-focused adjudication.
