Judge Rejects Trump's Proposal to Overturn Hash Money Conviction

A New York judge ruled that Donald Trump's hush money conviction was valid, rejecting the president-elect's argument that it should be thrown out following a landmark Supreme Court immunity ruling of the United States.

In July, the nation's highest court ruled that presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for “official actions” they take while in office.

But on Monday, Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan — who presided over Trump's trial last spring — sided with prosecutors, saying the convictions on 34 counts centered on “unofficial conduct.”

The decision preserves Trump's historic conviction that, if confirmed, would make Trump the first criminal to sit in the White House.

In his 41-page ruling, Judge Merchan rejected Trump's argument that the government's case relied on evidence related to his official work as president, which would be covered by immunity.

The evidence presented at trial concerned “entirely unofficial conduct,” he wrote. And the judge noted that in its own decision, the Supreme Court held that “not everything the president does is official,” even if it is done from the Oval Office.

In a statement to US media, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung criticized the move, calling it a “direct violation of the Supreme Court's ruling on immunity.”

“This illegal case should never have been brought and the Constitution requires that it be immediately dismissed,” Mr Cheung said.

In May, a New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records.

The conviction stems from Trump's attempt to conceal reimbursements from his ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen, who in 2016 paid an adult film star to remain silent about an alleged sexual relationship with Trump.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing.

Judge Merchan was scheduled to rule on sentencing on Nov. 12, but he postponed the decision, saying he wanted to hear from prosecutors about how to move the case forward after Trump's re-election.

In the days that followed, Trump filed another motion to dismiss the case, arguing that his upcoming return to the White House required that the case be dropped.

Now, following Judge Merchan's ruling, Trump's team is almost certain to seek further delays and appeal.

And the judge has not yet decided whether he will impose a sentence before Trump takes office in January, after his term ends in 2029, or at all.

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