Top Stories

Trump Lawyers Seek Overturn of Hush Money Conviction Following Supreme Court Ruling

Donald Trump’s legal team has requested that his conviction in the hush money case be overturned, and his sentencing postponed, according to reports from US media.

This follows a recent Supreme Court ruling granting the former president immunity from prosecution for official actions taken during his tenure.

The letter from Trump’s lawyers to the New York judge overseeing the case cites the Supreme Court’s decision as grounds for the appeal. Trump was convicted in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records and is set to be sentenced on July 11.

His legal team argues that since the records were signed during his presidency in 2017, they fall under the scope of official acts covered by the immunity ruling.

Previously, a federal judge dismissed similar arguments, stating that Trump had not demonstrated that his actions were related to his official duties as president. However, the Supreme Court’s recent decision has prompted Trump’s lawyers to renew their claims.

The ruling clarified that while a president has immunity for “official acts,” this does not extend to “unofficial acts.”

This Supreme Court verdict, celebrated by Trump as a “big win” for democracy, pertains to a separate case in which he is accused of attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. President Joe Biden has criticised the ruling, calling it a “dangerous precedent” that undermines the rule of law.

The letter from Trump’s legal team, sent to Judge Juan Merchan on Monday, contends that certain evidence presented in the New York trial should be excluded based on the Supreme Court’s decision. The letter has not been made public, and Judge Merchan has yet to respond to the request.

In the original trial, a Manhattan jury convicted Trump on all counts after hearing testimony from several witnesses, including former adult film star Stormy Daniels. The case centred around allegations that Trump concealed a payment to Daniels during the final days of his 2016 campaign by disguising it as legal expenses, thereby violating election laws. Trump has denounced the verdict as a “disgrace.”

Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi

Follow us on:

Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi

Recent Posts

Tinubu: Tax Reforms Pro-Poor, Will Eliminate Colonial Assumptions; No Tax without Outcry

President Tinubu has described the tax reform as pro-poor, emphasising its necessity despite resistance from…

3 hours ago

Tinubu: Nigeria’s Lithium, CNG Can Drive Local Automobile Industry, Spur Economic Growth

President Tinubu has highlighted Nigeria’s lithium reserves and CNG potential to attract automobile assembly and…

4 hours ago

Tinubu: No Regrets Removing Subsidies, We Were Spending Our Future

“We were spending our future, not investing,” President Tinubu said, defending the removal of subsidies…

4 hours ago

Tinubu: I Won’t Reduce the Size of My Cabinet, Nigeria is a Large Country

President Tinubu has insisted on retaining his cabinet size, noting that it is necessary for…

4 hours ago

Borrowing Is Not Criminal, President Tinubu Defends 2025 Budget

Tinubu has defended borrowing, calling it essential to correct economic mismatches and invest in long-term…

4 hours ago

Tinubu: I Am Proud Of What My Security Chiefs Are Doing, No Need To Probe Them

Tinubu has said he will not be probing Nigeria’s service chiefs, saying he has confidence…

4 hours ago