Trump Seeks Dismissal of Hush Money Conviction Case \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers filed a motion to dismiss his criminal conviction for falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. The defense argues the case disrupts Trump’s presidential transition and is politically motivated. The Manhattan District Attorney has until Dec. 9 to respond, with the court yet to decide on proceeding with sentencing or further delays.
Trump Lawyers Seek Conviction Dismissal: Quick Looks
- Motion Filed: Trump’s legal team requests dismissal of his hush money case conviction.
- Presidency Disruption: Defense argues continuing the case threatens Trump’s transition efforts.
- Political Motivation Claim: Lawyers cite Hunter Biden’s pardon as evidence of selective prosecution.
- Sentencing Delayed: The court postponed sentencing to assess the case’s future.
- Historic Case: Trump is the first convicted criminal elected as U.S. president.
- Legal Strategy: Trump pledges to appeal if the motion is denied.
Deep Look
Trump’s lawyers, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, contend that the case’s continuation would create unprecedented disruptions. “Wrongly continuing proceedings in this failed lawfare case disrupts President Trump’s transition efforts,” the attorneys wrote, citing Trump’s “overwhelming national mandate” following his reelection victory on November 5, 2024.
Citing Political Parallels
The defense also referenced President Joe Biden’s recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, who faced tax and gun convictions. They argued that the Manhattan District Attorney’s case against Trump represents the same kind of selective prosecution Biden condemned when issuing his son’s pardon.
Prosecutors and Sentencing Delays
Manhattan prosecutors have until Dec. 9 to respond to the dismissal request. While they plan to oppose any motion to dismiss, they have expressed openness to delaying Trump’s sentencing until the end of his second term in 2029. Trump’s legal team dismissed this as a “ridiculous suggestion,” arguing that it would unnecessarily prolong the case and overshadow his presidency.
Judge Juan M. Merchan, who presided over Trump’s trial, has already postponed sentencing indefinitely, originally scheduled for late November, to allow time for both sides to weigh in on the case’s trajectory.
Details of Trump’s Conviction
Prosecutors argued that Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels on Trump’s behalf and was later reimbursed by Trump. The Trump Organization reportedly disguised these payments as legal expenses to conceal their true nature, according to the prosecution.
Implications of the Motion
If granted, the motion to dismiss would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the consequences of a criminal record and potential prison time. This would also mark a significant legal victory for Trump, who has consistently denied wrongdoing and characterized the case as a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
However, Judge Merchan has several options, including:
- Upholding the conviction and proceeding with sentencing.
- Delaying the case until Trump leaves office in 2029.
- Awaiting the outcome of Trump’s parallel appeal to move the case out of state court.
Historic Precedent
Trump’s conviction is historic: he is the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected president. The case adds a layer of complexity to his presidency, as he prepares to take office again on January 20, 2025.
Defense Arguments and Next Steps
Trump’s lawyers maintain that payments to Michael Cohen were legitimate legal expenses and that the case lacks merit. They assert that continuing the case undermines the presidency’s integrity and distracts from Trump’s ability to govern effectively.
Trump Seeks Dismissal
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