In a bold legal maneuver, Donald Trump has called on a New York judge to dismiss the hush money case in which he was convicted earlier this year. The former president, now president-elect following his victory on November 5, argued that the charges are incompatible with his ability to effectively lead the nation.
Trump’s legal team filed the motion on December 2, asserting that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s prosecution creates “unwarranted disruptions” to governance. The team emphasized that the case’s persistence would impede Trump’s presidential duties when he takes office on January 20.
The hush money case revolves around $130,000 paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. A Manhattan jury convicted Trump of falsifying business records related to the payment. The former president has consistently denied Daniels’ claims of a past relationship and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Juan Merchan, who presides over the case, previously postponed Trump’s sentencing to allow his defense team to present their dismissal motion. The prosecution has agreed to the delay but signaled strong opposition to the dismissal request.
In their 72-page filing, Trump’s lawyers drew parallels to recent political controversies, including President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter Biden, calling it evidence of selective prosecution. They also criticized Bragg’s office for pursuing the case against Trump, framing it as politically motivated.
Bragg’s team has proposed deferring all proceedings until Trump completes his second term in 2029, a suggestion the defense dismissed as absurd. “Delaying sentencing for over a decade only underscores the frivolity of this case,” the filing argued.
The judge has yet to set a timeline for ruling on the dismissal motion. If the charges are not vacated, they would mark the first criminal conviction of a U.S. president, former or sitting—a historic shadow looming over the incoming administration.
