A New York judge has upheld the conviction of former President Donald Trump in the hush money case, rejecting his argument that the conviction should be dismissed due to a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting presidents immunity for official acts.
Judge Juan Merchan ruled that the charges against Trump—34 felony counts related to falsifying business records—are based on “unofficial conduct,” rather than actions taken during his presidency.
The ruling is a significant blow to Trump’s legal team, who had requested that the conviction be overturned following the Supreme Court’s decision in July 2024.
That decision affirmed that presidents enjoy broad immunity from criminal prosecution for acts performed in their official capacity.
However, Merchan sided with the prosecutors, stating that the charges stemmed from actions Trump took prior to and during his presidency, unrelated to any official duties.
This decision preserves Trump’s historic conviction, which could make him the first felon to ever serve in the White House if upheld in future appeals.
The conviction originates from a 2016 incident in which Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid adult film star Stormy Daniels to silence her allegations of an affair with Trump.
Cohen was reimbursed by Trump, and the payments were later hidden through false business records.
Despite the guilty verdict in May 2024, Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. His spokesperson, Steven Cheung, blasted the decision, calling it a “violation of the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling.”
Cheung further stated that the case should never have been brought, claiming it violated the Constitution.
Judge Merchan’s ruling is expected to keep the case in the spotlight as Trump’s legal battles continue to unfold.
