President-elect Donald Trump’s legal team is urging a Manhattan judge to dismiss his conviction on 34 felony counts tied to a 2016 hush money payment. Trump’s attorneys argue that his recent election victory supersedes the case, calling it politically motivated and fundamentally flawed.
In a letter to Judge Juan Merchan, lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove contend the conviction would impede Trump’s transition and presidency. They also cite presidential immunity, requesting a Dec. 20 deadline to formalize the dismissal motion. Prosecutors, meanwhile, have suggested delaying sentencing until after Trump’s term, respecting the presidency while upholding the jury’s role.
If the conviction stands, sentencing could range from fines to four years in prison. As a state case, it falls outside the scope of presidential pardons, keeping Trump’s legal challenges unresolved.
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