Manhattan prosecutors, led by District Attorney Alvin Bragg, are vigorously opposing former President Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn his conviction in the hush money case. This legal battle comes in the wake of a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, which Trump’s lawyers argue should invalidate both the verdict and the underlying indictment.Trump was convicted on May 30 of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. His lawyers contend that the trial was ‘tainted’ by evidence that should have been off-limits under the high court’s ruling.However, prosecutors maintain that the Supreme Court’s decision has no bearing on this case. They argue that the charges involve ‘strictly personal conduct, rather than official presidential acts’. Furthermore, they assert that even if some evidence were to be excluded based on the immunity ruling, there would still be overwhelming proof of Trump’s guilt.The prosecution’s filing states, ‘The charges in this case involve strictly personal conduct, rather than official presidential acts,’ emphasizing that most of the conduct in question occurred before Trump’s presidency. They also point out that Trump’s lawyers failed to raise the immunity issue in a timely fashion during the trial.Judge Juan M. Merchan is set to rule on Trump’s request to overturn the verdict and dismiss the indictment on September 6. If the conviction stands, Trump’s sentencing is scheduled for September 18, less than two months before the November presidential election.This case marks a historic moment as Trump became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime. The outcome of this legal battle could have significant implications for Trump’s political future and the broader question of presidential accountability.
Key points
- Manhattan prosecutors argue that the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling doesn’t apply to Trump’s hush money case.
- Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records to conceal a payment to Stormy Daniels.
- The judge will rule on Trump’s request to overturn the verdict on September 6, with potential sentencing on September 18.
