Judge Delays Key Ruling in Trump Hush Money Case Following Historic Election
Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over President-elect Donald Trump’s criminal trial, has added a week of suspense to the New York hush money case. Originally expected to issue his decision on Tuesday, Merchan is now set to determine whether specific evidence presented during the trial should have been protected under presidential immunity. This decision could significantly impact the case’s outcome, heightening anticipation surrounding the ruling.
Trump, recently elected despite being the first former president convicted of a crime, is also the first person with a criminal record to win the presidency. His legal team, led by attorney Todd Blanche, argues that the conviction should be overturned based on a recent Supreme Court ruling that exempts former presidents from prosecution for official acts. The defense contends that some evidence, including testimony related to Trump’s communications with former White House aides Hope Hicks and Madeleine Westerhout, should have been excluded from the trial, highlighting the unprecedented nature of this case.
Prosecutors countered that the Supreme Court’s ruling does not pertain to the evidence presented in this trial, arguing that the contested material comprised only a minor portion of the substantial evidence the jury reviewed. Ultimately, the jury found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts, centering on a scheme to conceal reimbursements made to his former attorney, Michael Cohen. Cohen had paid $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election to keep her from publicly discussing an alleged encounter with Trump. Trump continues to deny the charges of falsifying business records and maintains that Daniels’ story is untrue.
The origins of this case date back to 2018, when the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office first investigated the hush money deal. The investigation intensified in 2020 when the Supreme Court ruled that a sitting president could not avoid a state criminal subpoena, thereby granting access to Trump’s tax records. Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg later narrowed the focus of the case to the hush money payments, ultimately leading to Trump’s indictment on March 31, 2023. The seven-week trial concluded in April 2024 with a guilty verdict after a day and a half of jury deliberation.
As Judge Merchan deliberates on this critical ruling, Trump continues his campaign, signaling that he is prepared for a prolonged legal battle. His legal team remains determined, hoping that Merchan’s ruling will introduce a pivotal shift in a case already marked by significant legal precedents and intense public scrutiny.