A New York judge has upheld a jury's verdict charging President-elect Trump with a felony, ruling that his hush money conviction can withstand the Supreme Court's new test of presidential immunity.
Judge Juan Melchan The decision will be made quickly When Trump won the presidential election over Vice President Harris and voters chose to push Trump back into the White House despite years of legal jeopardy. It's about.
The justices have not yet ruled on Trump's attempt to throw out the lawsuit entirely now that he is president-elect.
Trump's lawyers argued that New York prosecutors presented evidence during Trump's seven-week trial that was protected by the Supreme Court's presidential immunity doctrine.
The evidence at issue included, among other things, testimony from Trump's aides, tweets sent by Trump while he was in office, and government ethics forms.
The judge ruled that some of the immunity challenges could not be sustained because Trump did not raise them earlier, but none of the evidence was protected.
“Evidence relating to preserved claims relates entirely to informal acts and is therefore not entitled to immunity protection. And with respect to claims that were not preserved, this court, considering the merits, “We find that the alternative claims are also rejected because they relate entirely to unofficial acts,” Marchand wrote in the judgment.
After a trial, the high court ruled that former presidents enjoy absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for exercising core constitutional powers, and at least constructive immunity for other official acts. Although unofficial actions can be prosecuted, juries cannot question the motivations behind presidential decisions, the court said.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) said the evidence presented to the jury was not protected in any way, and even if it was, compared to “the other overwhelming evidence of the defendant's guilt.” He urged the judge to reject Trump's claims, arguing that they pale in comparison.
Machan agreed, saying that even if immunity applied to the evidence in question, “the use of these acts by citizens as evidence of clearly personal acts of falsifying business records is a violation of the state's policy. “We believe that there is no risk of encroachment on authority and function.” The Executive Branch finds this conclusion well supported by evidence other than motive. ”
Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to $130,000 in hush money he paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to cover up an affair before the 2016 presidential election. However, Mr. Trump denies this. Prosecutors with the District Attorney's Office argued that the scheme was an effort to illegally influence the outcome of the election.
The New York hush money case is the first in history in which a former president has been criminally prosecuted, and the only one to go to trial.
Separately, Trump has argued that a White House victory would force the jury's verdict and the dismissal of the entire case. Mr. Bragg pushed back, offering alternatives such as freezing legal proceedings during Mr. Trump's term.
The judge has not yet ruled on the matter.
President Trump's press secretary and incoming White House communications director, Stephen Chan, said in a statement: “Today's decision by Acting Judge Marchan, who is deeply contradictory in the Manhattan DA's witch hunt, is a direct result of the Supreme Court's decision on immunity and other “This is a direct violation of long-standing legal precedent.” .
Bragg's office declined to comment on the ruling.
In a separate letter, Marchan said President Trump also sent a letter on Dec. 3 alleging jury misconduct. The judge gave few details but indicated the matter would be published in a redacted form.
Trump's other criminal cases have worsened since his victory.
Special Counsel Jack Smith has dismissed all charges against President Trump in the federal election destruction and classified documents cases, but the president-elect's Georgia The state criminal case was suspended indefinitely. Trump's lawyers are also seeking an end to the case.
Updated at 7:53 p.m.
