Trump fails in bid to dismiss hush money case

(CLO) On Monday, Mr. Donald Trump failed in his attempt to dismiss a criminal conviction related to hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan rejected Mr. Trump’s argument that Manhattan prosecutors improperly presented evidence about Mr. Trump’s official conduct from his first term as president, as well as using testimony from former White House staffers and other evidence that was invalid and undermined the president’s immunity.

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In a 41-page ruling, Judge Merchan noted that the actions related to the hush money case were “private acts” and did not fall within the president’s immunity from official acts. Merchan wrote that even if some evidence was not properly admitted, the error did not affect the outcome because “the evidence of guilt was overwhelming.”

Trump’s lawyers continue to argue that keeping the case alive while he prepares to enter a second term as president would impede his ability to govern. Trump has asked Judge Merchan to delay sentencing until all appeals are exhausted, which could delay sentencing until 2029, when Trump will be 82.

The hush money case is one of the only Trump criminal cases set to go to trial in 2023, while other cases related to the 2020 election and Trump's handling of classified material remain pending.

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung criticized Merchan’s decision, calling it a “direct violation” of the immunity granted by the Supreme Court. It is unclear when Merchan will rule on Trump’s remaining claims.

The case stems from a $130,000 payment that Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, allegedly made to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election to keep an affair secret. Trump has denied the allegations, including that the payment came from falsifying business records to conceal the information.

In May, a Manhattan jury convicted Mr. Trump of 34 counts related to falsifying business records. However, Mr. Trump argued that the evidence used in the trial violated his presidential immunity, a decision the Supreme Court upheld in a separate case in July. The Supreme Court held that the president cannot be prosecuted for official acts while in office.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters, Politico, CNBC)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ong-donald-trump-that-bai-trong-no-luc-bac-bo-vu-an-tien-bit-mieng-post326032.html