US Judge Upholds Trump’s Hush Money Conviction, Rejects Immunity Argument

A New York judge has upheld the conviction of President-elect Donald Trump in the hush money case, dismissing his argument that the case should be dismissed following a ruling from the US Supreme Court granting broad immunity to presidents for actions taken in office.

In a decision delivered on Monday, Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over Trump’s trial earlier this year, sided with the prosecution, affirming the 34 felony convictions related to “unofficial conduct.” This ruling ensures that Trump’s conviction, stemming from his involvement in a 2016 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, remains in place.

The case centered on Trump’s attempt to cover up reimbursements to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who paid Daniels to stay silent about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. In May, a New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records related to this cover-up.

Trump had argued that the case should be dismissed based on the Supreme Court’s ruling in July, which stated that sitting presidents have immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken while in office. However, Judge Merchan rejected this argument, clarifying that the evidence presented in the trial was linked to “unofficial conduct” rather than any presidential duties. He referenced the Supreme Court’s decision, which indicated that not all actions of a president are considered “official,” even if they occur in the Oval Office.

In his 41-page ruling, Judge Merchan wrote, “The government’s case is focused entirely on unofficial conduct.”

Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, criticized the ruling, calling it a violation of the Supreme Court’s immunity decision and insisting that the case should be dismissed. “This lawless case should have never been brought, and the Constitution demands that it be immediately dismissed,” Cheung said.

Following the ruling, Trump’s legal team is expected to appeal, and there are likely to be further delays in the case. Judge Merchan has yet to decide whether to issue a sentence before Trump assumes office in January or after his term ends in 2029. If the conviction stands, Trump would become the first president in US history to serve while convicted of a felony.