Trump Lawyers Seek Conviction Set Aside & Sentencing Delay Amid Supreme Court Decision

Former President Donald Trump's legal team has formally requested Judge Juan M. Merchan to overturn his conviction and postpone his impending sentencing, originally scheduled for next week. The move follows a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, which the defense argues could impact Trump's New York case significantly.

In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, Trump's lawyers pointed to the Supreme Court's decision, asserting that it supports their earlier stance that certain evidence in the hush money trial should have been excluded as it pertains to actions protected under presidential immunity.

The defense has emphasized that evidence such as Trump's social media posts during his presidency, particularly those concerning former lawyer Michael Cohen, should not have been admissible due to immunity protections. They contend that these actions were official presidential acts and thus shielded from legal scrutiny during Trump's tenure.

The Supreme Court's ruling, delivered on Monday, established broader immunity for former presidents, delaying another criminal case against Trump in Washington, where he faces charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.

Trump currently faces sentencing in New York for 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to a pornographic actress before the 2016 election. Scheduled for July 11, the sentencing is now under legal challenge pending Judge Merchan's decision.

Judge Merchan, known for streamlining courtroom procedures, had implemented a policy requiring concise summaries of arguments from both sides to manage the case efficiently.

Federal courts previously rejected Trump's attempts to shift the trial to federal jurisdiction, affirming that the charges centered on personal matters unrelated to his official duties as president. U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein underscored this distinction, stating that the case primarily involved efforts to conceal private events rather than presidential responsibilities.

Why This Matters: The request to overturn Trump's conviction and delay sentencing underscores ongoing legal battles over presidential immunity and the boundaries between personal conduct and official duties.

Key Takeaways:

• Trump's lawyers seek to use the recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity to challenge his conviction.
• The defense argues that evidence related to Trump's actions as president should have been protected from legal scrutiny.
• The Supreme Court decision has broader implications for Trump's legal challenges, potentially affecting multiple ongoing cases.
• Judge Merchan's role in managing court procedures highlights efforts to maintain efficiency amid high-profile trials.
• Federal courts have consistently ruled that Trump's alleged actions in the hush money case are personal rather than official presidential duties.