Donald Trump’s efforts to have his hush money conviction dismissed hit a major roadblock on Monday, when a New York judge rejected his argument that a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity should apply to his case. Justice Juan Merchan’s ruling means the former president’s conviction on charges related to a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels will stand for now.
Trump’s legal team had hoped to leverage the Court’s July decision, which granted immunity for presidential acts carried out during a president’s term. However, Merchan sided with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, stating that the case involved Trump’s personal actions, not official presidential duties. The ruling effectively closes one path for Trump to reenter the White House in January without the weight of a criminal conviction hanging over him.
This case, stemming from the alleged cover-up of the hush money paid to Daniels in 2016, became a landmark moment earlier this year when a Manhattan jury convicted Trump of 34 counts of falsifying business records. It marked the first time a sitting or former U.S. president was found guilty of a criminal offense.
Despite the ruling, Trump’s legal battles are far from over. He is pushing for a separate motion to have the verdict overturned on different grounds, claiming the case is politically motivated. Meanwhile, Merchan has yet to decide on another motion filed by Trump’s team, which argues that the charges hinder his ability to govern as president.
In his decision, Merchan emphasized that the prosecution did not interfere with the executive branch’s authority, stating that the case centered on actions unrelated to Trump’s official role. Trump’s legal representatives, however, remain adamant that the ruling violates the Supreme Court’s recognition of presidential immunity, calling the decision a “direct violation.”
Trump, who continues to deny any wrongdoing in connection with Daniels, faces further challenges in the courts, with other cases pending related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and his handling of classified documents.
