Trump asks court to overturn hush money verdict in final bid to evade sentence

Donald Trump has requested a federal court to become involved in his hush money case in New York, aiming to overturn his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records or to delay his sentencing date set for September.

In a filing made late on Thursday, Trump’s legal team urged a federal judge to transfer the case away from Justice Juan Merchan, arguing that the evidence and charges against him should be dismissed in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling on “immunity.”

Trump’s lawyers contend that the case should be moved to an “unbiased forum, free from local hostilities.” In this new venue, they intend to seek the overturning of his conviction, as detailed in their court documents.

According to lawyers Emil Bove and Todd Blanche, keeping the case in state court will “continue to cause direct and irreparable harm” to Trump’s presidential campaign, which they describe as “groundbreaking.”

The filing puts forth several grievances and claims against Judge Merchan and District Attorney Alvin Bragg, which have been previously dismissed in various courts.

“These ongoing harms must be stopped,” the attorneys stated, stressing the urgency of their request.

They emphasized, “The impending election cannot be redone.” Trump’s legal team also warned about the potential long-term consequences of what they label an improper prosecution, arguing it could negatively affect the operations of the federal government for generations.

If this motion proceeds, it could force Judge Merchan to reconsider Trump’s scheduled sentencing date.

On May 30, a Manhattan jury found the former president guilty on all counts of falsifying business records. This conviction was linked to a scheme designed to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election by concealing hush money payments to an adult film star, whose revelations threatened to undermine Trump’s campaign.

Judge Merchan is currently assessing Trump’s request to dismiss the case based on the “immunity” ruling, which asserts that former presidents are protected from criminal prosecution related to their official duties.

Following the ruling, Trump’s legal team characterized some of the evidence presented in the hush money trial as “impermissible.” They pointed to conversations with White House aides, phone records during his presidency, and tweets used as formal communication channels during his administration as examples.

Judge Merchan is expected to issue a decision on these arguments on September 16.

Trump’s sentencing is slated for September 18, but he has requested that this date be postponed until after the presidential election in November.

A federal judge has already dismissed Trump’s assertions that his alleged misconduct could be classified as “official” duties entitled to immunity from prosecution.

District Judge Alvin Hellerstein previously stated that the “evidence overwhelmingly suggests that the matter was a purely personal item of the president — a cover-up of an embarrassing event.”

He further clarified in July 2023, saying, “Hush money paid to an adult film star is not related to a president’s official acts. It does not reflect in any way the color of the president’s official duties.”

This latest legal maneuver by Trump comes just one day after he faced new federal indictments concerning election interference, as special counsel Jack Smith adjusts his long-standing case against the former president related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election.