A New York Judge Denies Trump’s Immunity Claim and Upholds His Hush Money Conviction

Trump’s felony conviction was upheld by a New York judge who determined that it was due to unauthorized behavior rather than presidential immunity.

A New York judge has upheld Donald Trump’s hush money conviction, dismissing the president-elect’s claim that it should be overturned in light of the US Supreme Court’s historic immunity decision.

Presidents enjoy extensive immunity from criminal prosecution for “official actions” they do while in office, according to a July ruling by the nation’s highest court.

Judge Juan Merchan of Manhattan, who oversaw Trump’s trial this past spring, however, ruled with the prosecution on Monday, stating that the convictions on 34 criminal counts were based on “unofficial conduct.”

The ruling upholds Trump’s historic conviction, which would make him the first convicted felon to hold the presidency.

Justice Merchan refuted Trump’s claim that the government’s case depended on information pertaining to his official duties as president, which would be protected by immunity, in his 41-page decision.

He wrote that the evidence presented throughout the trial was “entirely to unofficial conduct.” The judge pointed out that even when the president acts from the Oval Office, “not everything the president does is official,” according to the Supreme Court’s own decision.

Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung denounced the judgment in a statement to US media, describing it as “a direct violation of the Supreme Court’s decision on immunity.”

“The Constitution requires that this lawless case be dismissed immediately, and it should never have been brought,” Mr. Cheung stated.

Trump was convicted of falsifying corporate documents by a New York jury in May.

Trump’s attempt to conceal payments to his former attorney, Michael Cohen, who in 2016 bought the silence of an adult film actress on an alleged sexual encounter with Trump, led to the conviction.

All wrongdoing has been denied by Trump.

Justice Merchan was supposed to pronounce on the conviction on November 12th, but he postponed it, stating that he needed to consult with prosecutors about the case’s next steps after Trump was re-elected.

Trump submitted a second move to dismiss the case in the days that followed, claiming that it was necessary to do so since he would soon be returning to the White House.

In light of Justice Merchan’s decision, Trump’s team is now almost going to request additional appeals and delays. Trump’s term ends in 2029, and the judge has yet to determine whether to impose a sentence before he takes office in January or not.