Trump's Hush Money Fight Can He федерал Escape the Verdict?

Article Heading: Trump's Hush Money Conviction: A Federal Appeal Looms Large

The legal saga surrounding former President Donald Trump continues as his legal team prepares to argue before a federal appeals court this Wednesday. The core objective? To overturn his **criminal conviction** stemming from the hush money case that captivated the nation last year.

At the heart of this appeal is Trump's persistent effort to shift the New York case from state to federal court. This strategic maneuver, if successful, could pave the way for him to challenge the verdict on grounds of **presidential immunity**.

Here's a breakdown of the key elements in play:

• A three-judge panel from the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments.
• Trump's legal team is requesting the federal court to seize control of the criminal case.
• The ultimate goal is to have the verdict overturned, which is currently under appeal in a state appellate court.

“The 2nd Circuit should determine once and for all that this unprecedented criminal prosecution of a former and current President of the United States belongs in federal court,” Trump’s lawyers stated in a recent court filing, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

However, the Manhattan district attorney's office, responsible for prosecuting the case, is firmly advocating for it to remain within the state court system. Interestingly, Trump's own Justice Department, now influenced by his former criminal defense lawyers, supports his bid to move the case to federal jurisdiction.

The timeline of events leading to this appeal is crucial:

1. May 2024: Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels.
2. March 2023: Trump's lawyers initially sought to move the case to federal court.
3. Post-conviction, another attempt was made, citing constitutional rights violations and the Supreme Court's presidential immunity ruling.

Judge Alvin Hellerstein, however, rejected both requests, asserting that Trump's conviction stemmed from his personal life, not his presidential duties. He emphasized that the hush money payments were "private, unofficial acts, outside the bounds of executive authority."

Trump's legal team contends that prosecutors rushed the trial, preempting the Supreme Court's decision on presidential immunity. They also argue that evidence presented to jurors was improperly allowed under the ruling, including testimonies from former White House staffers and Trump's tweets from 2018.

Adding another layer of complexity, key figures from Trump's past legal defense are now in prominent positions within the Justice Department. Todd Blanche serves as the deputy U.S. attorney general, while Emil Bove holds a high-ranking position.

Judge Juan M. Merchan, who presided over the trial, denied requests to dismiss the conviction based on presidential immunity grounds and sentenced Trump to an unconditional discharge on January 10, leaving the conviction intact but without further punishment. Trump, appearing via video at his sentencing, decried the case as a "political witch hunt" and "an embarrassment to New York."

Key Takeaways:

• Trump's legal battle to overturn his hush money conviction continues.
• The core strategy involves moving the case to federal court to leverage presidential immunity arguments.
• The outcome of this appeal could have significant implications for the future of the case and the scope of presidential immunity.

The upcoming hearing promises to be a pivotal moment in this ongoing legal drama, potentially setting the stage for further appeals, possibly even reaching the U.S. Supreme Court. The nation watches with bated breath as the legal process unfolds, shaping the narrative of this unprecedented situation.

Tags: Donald Trump, Criminal Conviction, Hush Money, New York Case, Federal Court, Presidential Immunity, 2nd Circuit, Court Appeal, Republican, Trump Lawyers, Stormy Daniels, Alvin Hellerstein, Juan M. Merchan, Todd Blanche, Emil Bove

Source: https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-new-york-conviction-9defa620ade66158e4e9b12ade3fe778