Trump's legal challenge portrays the New York case as driven by political motives and questions the state's legal authority
Donald Trump's attorneys have officially contested his 2024 New York conviction related to hush money, claiming in a Monday filing with the state's intermediate appellate court that the proceedings were deeply flawed by legal mistakes and political prejudice. The appeal, filed by lawyers from Sullivan & Cromwell, argues that federal statutes override the state charges and that Justice Juan Merchan, who presided over the trial, should have stepped aside due to alleged conflicts of interest, according to
The guilty verdict, which involved 34 felony counts for falsifying business records to hide a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, was reached in May 2024 after a trial lasting six weeks. Trump, maintaining his innocence, received an unconditional discharge in January—meaning he faced no jail time, fines, or probation—after a Supreme Court decision that expanded presidential immunity for official actions,
The appeal further disputes the legitimacy of the charges, alleging that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg created felony counts by combining misdemeanors that were already past the statute of limitations, using a "complex legal theory" not supported by New York law, as previously noted by ABC News. Trump's legal team also faulted Merchan for not removing himself from the case due to his 2020 political donations and his daughter's employment at a marketing agency serving Democratic clients, which they argue undermined his neutrality,
The appeal describes the prosecution as a politically motivated attempt to derail Trump's 2024 presidential bid, labeling it "the most politically charged prosecution in our Nation's history," according to the filing. This echoes points made during the trial, where Trump's defense highlighted the political context and the Supreme Court's immunity decision as reasons to dismiss the case. The appeal is also accompanied by a federal motion to move the case to federal court, where Trump could argue for broader immunity, as reported by
The Manhattan district attorney's office has not yet issued a response to the appeal but has previously maintained that the prosecution was a proper application of state law. A spokesperson did not immediately reply to a request for comment, according to Bloomberg Law. Legal experts point out that the appeal faces a complex process, as the Appellate Division in New York will review the case before any possible escalation to higher courts.
Trump's legal approach is consistent with his broader strategy of contesting unfavorable decisions through various courts. His team also recently challenged a $500 million civil fraud verdict, though an appeals court upheld the finding of liability but reduced the penalty, as reported by Business Insider. The hush money case stands out as the only one among four criminal cases against Trump that has led to a conviction.
With the appeal now in progress, the case is set to probe the limits of presidential immunity and the reach of state prosecutors. The Appellate Division's First Department, which is handling the appeal, has not yet announced when it will issue a decision.
