Manhattan prosecutors urge judge to uphold Trump’s conviction in “hush money” case
2024-07-25
Trump's Conviction Upheld: Prosecutors Dismiss Immunity Claims in Hush Money Case
In a high-stakes legal battle, New York prosecutors have urged a Manhattan judge to uphold the criminal conviction of former President Donald Trump, dismissing his claims of presidential immunity. The prosecutors argue that a recent Supreme Court decision has little bearing on the unanimous jury's verdict, which found Trump guilty of falsifying business records.
In a comprehensive 69-page memo filed on Wednesday and made public on Thursday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his team of prosecutors have forcefully rejected Trump's efforts to overturn his conviction. They have asserted that the Supreme Court's recent decision on presidential immunity "has no bearing on this prosecution and would not support [vacating] the jury's unanimous verdict."The prosecutors have argued that the evidence and testimony presented at trial, which included statements from former White House officials and Trump's own tweets, were not primarily related to his official presidential duties. Instead, they have characterized the matter as a "personal item of the president," dismissing Trump's claims that the evidence should have been withheld from the jury.
Prosecutors Defend the Jury's Unanimous Verdict
Addressing Trump's lawyers' claims that the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity should lead to the overturning of the conviction, the prosecutors have firmly stated that the jury's unanimous decision should be upheld. They have argued that the recent Supreme Court decision has little impact on the case, as the evidence and testimony presented at trial were not primarily related to Trump's official acts as president.The prosecutors have emphasized that the case against Trump was built on a substantial body of evidence, including testimony from 22 witnesses and "reams of documents." They have asserted that any evidence related to Trump's official acts was "harmless error" and should not derail the conviction, which was the result of a thorough and comprehensive trial process.
Sentencing Delayed, Prosecutors Confident in Upholding Conviction
The sentencing in the case, initially scheduled for July 11, has been delayed after Trump's lawyers claimed that the recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity supported their argument for overturning the conviction. Justice Juan Merchan has stated that he will rule on Trump's effort to overturn the conviction on September 6.If Trump's motion to overturn the conviction fails, the sentencing will take place on September 18. The former president, who is once again the Republican nominee for the presidency, could face potential jail time in the case. However, the judge also has the option to impose less severe penalties, such as probation.Despite the legal challenges, the prosecutors have expressed confidence in their ability to uphold the jury's unanimous verdict, dismissing Trump's claims of presidential immunity as "meritless." The case continues to be a high-stakes legal battle, with the outcome potentially having significant implications for the former president's political and legal future.
