Judge rejects Trump bid to toss Stormy Daniels hush money charges | Donald Trump news

A New York judge rejected the claim of Trump’s lawyers that he should not be tried as the former president of the United States.

A United States judge has rejected a bid by Donald Trump’s lawyers to overturn the president-elect’s hush money order because the Supreme Court ruled that former presidents are immune from prosecution.

New York Judge Juan Merchan said on Monday that the US Supreme Court’s ruling granting immunity for “official acts” does not apply to statements at Trump’s trial involving “unofficial conduct that would not be entitled to immunity protection at all.”

Merca’s decision is the latest development in the long-running case against the president-elect, which is still pending.

In May, a New York City jury convicted Trump of all 34 counts of falsifying business documents related to a $130,000 payment to an adult film actress. Stormy Daniels on the eve of 2016 presidential elections.

Prosecutors convinced a jury that Trump’s payments were made to cover up a scandal that would damage his 2016 campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton, who ultimately defeated her.

Trump’s sentencing was originally scheduled for July 11, but was later pushed back to November 26.

After Trump’s victory on November 5, 2024 presidential electionsTrump’s lawyers pressed Mercha to fire him “to facilitate an orderly transition of executive authority and in the interests of justice.”

New York prosecutors said they were open to delaying the sentencing until after Trump’s second term as president, but opposed his lawyer’s plea.

Trump could face up to four years in prison for each felony, though court watchers say it’s unlikely he’ll spend time behind bars as opposed to probation or community service.

Trump’s second presidential term will officially begin on January 20, 2025. He is the first president of the United States, past or present. accused and convicted from crime.

The hush money case is just one of several legal cases involving the former reality TV star.

In late November, US special counsel Jack Smith moved to dismiss Two criminal cases accusing Trump of solicitation He overturned his defeat in the 2020 elections and mishandling classified government documents in anticipation of his return to the White House.

Last month, Trump’s lawyers also asked New York Attorney General Letitia James to overturn a $464 million civil judgment against him for fraud and “for the good of the country” as he prepares to return to office.

New York Deputy Attorney General Judith Vale denied the request in a letter to Trump’s attorney, John Sauer, posted on social media.