“No one is above the law”: A New York Judge upholds Trump’s conviction in the “hush money” case
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In a decision that reverberates through the corridors of power and into the homes of everyday Americans, a New York judge has made a bold statement about the limits of presidential immunity and the rule of law.
On a day that will be marked in the annals of legal history, Judge Juan Merchan finally decided on the felony conviction of President-elect Donald Trump.
Judge Merchan's decision draws a clear line in the sand, distinguishing between official conduct and personal misdeeds. He decided to uphold Trump’s felony conviction for falsifying records to cover up a “hush money” sex scandal.
Merchan’s decision rejects the claim that a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity nullifies this Manhattan criminal case.
The judge's 41-page ruling emphasized that the actions for which Trump was convicted were “decidedly personal acts” and did not pose a threat to the executive branch's authority or function.
These “unofficial” actions center around payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have had an affair with Trump just before the 2016 election.
The conviction, which Trump's team has vowed to challenge, could make him the first criminal felon to occupy the White House and serve as president when he takes office on January 20, 2025.
Separately, Trump has conversed with Judge Marchan to “dismiss the entire New York criminal case as a result of his November election victory.”
Merchan, in his ruling, took the side of prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney’s office who said that, “while the US Supreme Court granted presidents wide latitude in having immunity for presidential actions, the activities for which Trump was convicted were unofficial – not official – conduct.”
He also added, in his ruling, “It is therefore logical and reasonable to conclude that if the act of falsifying records to cover up the payments so that the public would not be made aware is decidedly an unofficial act, so too should the communications to further that same cover-up be unofficial.”
This ruling takes down one of the many efforts of Trump to clean his slate of criminal felonies prior to his return to the White House.
Trump's spokesperson, Steven Cheung, issued a statement after the ruling that didn’t specify an appeal to the ruling, but rather, he would continue to fight the political “witch hunt” that directly violated the Supreme Court’s decision on community and other legal precedents.
“This lawless case should have never been brought, and the Constitution demands that it be immediately dismissed, as President Trump must be allowed to continue the Presidential Transition process and execute the vital duties of the presidency, unobstructed by the remains of this, or any other, Witch Hunt,” Cheung stated.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office, led by Alvin Bragg, has declined to comment on the ruling.
Trump, together with his lawyers, requested Marchan to set aside his hush money trial conviction on the basis of the ruling of the Supreme Court on presidential immunity last summer.
The Supreme Court's July 1 ruling, delivered by appointed justices, has already had significant implications for Trump, knocking out parts of his federal election interference indictment and potentially shielding him from another criminal trial in 2024.
It has also raised questions about the evidence used in the trial Trump lost, where he was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
Trump’s conviction in Manhattan was given last May 30.
Source: CBS News / Youtube.
In related news, have you heard about Trump’s plans for America once he reclaims his seat at the White House? It’s important to stay aware of what’s going to happen to your future. So, in case you missed it, you can read about his plans in this story here.
What are your thoughts on the ruling and its implications for the presidency and the rule of law? How do you feel about the balance between presidential immunity and personal accountability? Share your insights and experiences in the comments below, but please remember to be respectful of everyone’s views!
On a day that will be marked in the annals of legal history, Judge Juan Merchan finally decided on the felony conviction of President-elect Donald Trump.
Judge Merchan's decision draws a clear line in the sand, distinguishing between official conduct and personal misdeeds. He decided to uphold Trump’s felony conviction for falsifying records to cover up a “hush money” sex scandal.
Merchan’s decision rejects the claim that a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity nullifies this Manhattan criminal case.
The judge's 41-page ruling emphasized that the actions for which Trump was convicted were “decidedly personal acts” and did not pose a threat to the executive branch's authority or function.
These “unofficial” actions center around payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have had an affair with Trump just before the 2016 election.
A New York judge has upheld the conviction of President-elect Donald Trump for falsifying records related to a “hush money” scandal. Image source: CBS News / Youtube.
The conviction, which Trump's team has vowed to challenge, could make him the first criminal felon to occupy the White House and serve as president when he takes office on January 20, 2025.
Separately, Trump has conversed with Judge Marchan to “dismiss the entire New York criminal case as a result of his November election victory.”
Merchan, in his ruling, took the side of prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney’s office who said that, “while the US Supreme Court granted presidents wide latitude in having immunity for presidential actions, the activities for which Trump was convicted were unofficial – not official – conduct.”
He also added, in his ruling, “It is therefore logical and reasonable to conclude that if the act of falsifying records to cover up the payments so that the public would not be made aware is decidedly an unofficial act, so too should the communications to further that same cover-up be unofficial.”
This ruling takes down one of the many efforts of Trump to clean his slate of criminal felonies prior to his return to the White House.
Trump's spokesperson, Steven Cheung, issued a statement after the ruling that didn’t specify an appeal to the ruling, but rather, he would continue to fight the political “witch hunt” that directly violated the Supreme Court’s decision on community and other legal precedents.
“This lawless case should have never been brought, and the Constitution demands that it be immediately dismissed, as President Trump must be allowed to continue the Presidential Transition process and execute the vital duties of the presidency, unobstructed by the remains of this, or any other, Witch Hunt,” Cheung stated.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office, led by Alvin Bragg, has declined to comment on the ruling.
Trump, together with his lawyers, requested Marchan to set aside his hush money trial conviction on the basis of the ruling of the Supreme Court on presidential immunity last summer.
The Supreme Court's July 1 ruling, delivered by appointed justices, has already had significant implications for Trump, knocking out parts of his federal election interference indictment and potentially shielding him from another criminal trial in 2024.
It has also raised questions about the evidence used in the trial Trump lost, where he was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
Trump’s conviction in Manhattan was given last May 30.
Source: CBS News / Youtube.
In related news, have you heard about Trump’s plans for America once he reclaims his seat at the White House? It’s important to stay aware of what’s going to happen to your future. So, in case you missed it, you can read about his plans in this story here.
What are your thoughts on the ruling and its implications for the presidency and the rule of law? How do you feel about the balance between presidential immunity and personal accountability? Share your insights and experiences in the comments below, but please remember to be respectful of everyone’s views!
