In a recent development, Donald Trump’s legal team has filed a letter seeking to challenge the former president’s conviction in his New York criminal hush money trial based on the US Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, a source informed CNN.
Shortly after the Supreme Court ruling, Trump’s lawyer submitted a letter to Judge Juan Merchan requesting permission to file a motion to dispute the verdict, potentially delaying Trump’s upcoming sentencing to allow for further briefing on the issue.
This move to challenge Trump’s New York conviction is considered a longshot, following the Supreme Court’s decision that presidents have immunity from prosecution for core official acts. The former president and presumptive 2024 Republican nominee aims to avoid facing other criminal trials before the upcoming election.
Trump’s legal team referenced the Supreme Court ruling in their letter, suggesting a postponement of the sentencing scheduled for next week. They argued that the Manhattan District Attorney should not have presented evidence related to Trump’s official acts during the trial, leading to a plea to set aside the guilty verdict.
Meanwhile, the Manhattan district attorney’s office did not submit its sentencing recommendation on Monday, as expected. The office declined to comment on the matter, while Trump’s attorney highlighted the impact of the Supreme Court ruling on the hush money case during an interview.
The Supreme Court decision, which was split along ideological lines, allows Trump to claim immunity from prosecution for certain actions taken during his presidency, potentially causing further delays in ongoing cases, including the federal election subversion trial related to the events of January 6, 2021.
In a historic turn of events, Trump became the first former US president to be convicted of a felony in May, after a Manhattan jury found him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in his hush money criminal trial. The sentencing, set for July 11, could include imprisonment or probation, at the discretion of the judge.
As the story continues to unfold, additional details may emerge in this legal battle challenging Trump’s conviction in New York.
