onald Trump’s legal bid to have his criminal conviction related to hush money payments thrown out was denied on Monday, with a New York judge ruling that the U.S. Supreme Court’s July decision on presidential immunity does not apply in this case.
The former president’s lawyers had argued that the Supreme Court ruling, which granted immunity for actions taken in an official capacity, should shield him from prosecution in the hush money case. However, Justice Juan Merchan rejected this claim, stating that Trump’s actions, including falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, were personal, not related to his duties as president.
The decision, which came in the midst of Trump’s bid for a second term, means he will continue to face the consequences of the conviction unless another legal avenue succeeds. Trump’s defense team is also seeking to overturn the verdict based on separate arguments, but a ruling on that motion has not been made.
Merchan’s ruling emphasizes that the case concerns “decidedly personal acts” that have no impact on the executive branch’s authority. The hush money scandal, dating back to 2016, saw Trump convicted of falsifying records to prevent Daniels from publicly discussing an alleged affair, which Trump denies.
This criminal conviction marks the first time a former U.S. president has faced such charges. Trump maintains that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s actions are politically motivated, aiming to harm his 2024 campaign.
Meanwhile, Trump faces other legal challenges, including cases related to the 2020 election and classified documents, but these have been dismissed or delayed. The New York case remains the only one that has progressed to trial, with Trump pleading not guilty in all cases.
As of now, the question of whether Trump’s criminal convictions will impact his political future remains unresolved, but his legal team is pushing for relief, arguing that continued prosecution threatens his ability to govern.
