In a dramatic legal move, Donald Trump’s defense team is challenging his recent conviction by invoking a Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity. This bold strategy, unveiled in a recent court filing, seeks to nullify the guilty verdict handed down in Trump’s historic criminal trial concerning hush money payments to Stormy Daniels.
Trump’s lawyers argue that Manhattan prosecutors improperly used evidence of Trump’s official actions as president to secure the conviction. They claim that conversations with former aide Hope Hicks and certain tweets from Trump’s presidency should not have been presented to the jury. According to defense attorneys, this misuse of official-acts evidence represents a “structural error” under the federal Constitution, necessitating the vacating of the jury’s verdict.
Judge Juan Merchan has delayed Trump’s sentencing by two months, considering the Supreme Court’s July 1 ruling, which states that a president’s official acts cannot be used in private matter prosecutions. This decision may significantly impact Trump’s case, as it questions the legitimacy of the evidence used against him.
While Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office has yet to comment, legal experts suggest that Trump faces significant challenges in overturning the conviction. Much of the case centers on actions predating his presidency, and the Supreme Court ruling might not suffice to dismiss the jury’s findings.
The Supreme Court ruling itself originates from a separate federal case against Trump concerning his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. This decision effectively ensures Trump will not face trial in that case before the upcoming election.
Trump’s legal team is also leveraging the ruling to seek delays in another criminal case involving the mishandling of classified documents. Throughout all legal battles, Trump maintains his innocence, vehemently denying the allegations.
The hush money case revolves around Trump’s alleged falsification of business records to disguise a $130,000 payment made by his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to Stormy Daniels. Prosecutors assert this payment was intended to protect Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Despite the guilty verdict, Trump has denied any sexual encounter with Daniels and plans to appeal.
Defense lawyers contest the use of Trump’s 2018 tweets as evidence, which prosecutors argue demonstrate Trump’s awareness of the payment to Daniels. Trump’s team counters that these tweets were official communications, and their use in a criminal case sets a dangerous precedent.
Judge Merchan is set to rule on Trump’s arguments by September 6. If the conviction stands, Trump will be sentenced on September 18, just weeks before the presidential election.
