Trump's Legal Team Challenges New York Conviction
In a move that surprised no one, former President Donald Trump's legal team has decided to challenge his recent conviction in the New York "hush money" case.
Key Arguments
- Judge's Impartiality: They argue that the trial was a "big mistake" and that the judge should have stepped aside because he once donated a tiny bit to Democratic causes.
- Presidential Immunity: They claim a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity should wipe out Trump's conviction, even though that ruling was about a different case.
Trump's Legal Strategy
This appeal is just one part of Trump's plan to overturn his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He is also trying to move his state case to a federal court.
The Original Case
The original case revolved around payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged affair with Trump. Prosecutors said Trump used his lawyer, Michael Cohen, to pay Daniels $130,000 right before the 2016 election to bury her story. The jury agreed that Trump authorized falsifying records to cover up these payments.
Political Motivations?
Throughout the seven-week trial, Trump's legal team accused the Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, of bringing the case for political reasons. They pointed out that Bragg is a Democrat and that the case was brought during a heated presidential election where Trump was a leading candidate. Bragg's office has not commented on the appeal.
Current Status
Trump has not been sentenced to jail time, but the felony conviction remains on his record unless the appeal succeeds.
Legal Team Changes
Interestingly, two of Trump's former trial lawyers have moved on to big roles:
- Todd Blanche is now the deputy U.S. attorney general.
- Emil Bove III was confirmed as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Trump's legal team is calling this appeal a "powerhouse" and says he will keep fighting what they call "Democrat weaponization."
