President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction
The HinduPresident-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers formally asked a judge Monday to throw out his hush money criminal conviction, arguing continuing the case would present unconstitutional “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency”. In a filing made public Tuesday, Mr. Trump’s lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan that dismissal is warranted because of the extraordinary circumstances of his impending return to the White House. Following Mr. Trump’s election victory last month, Mr. Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed his sentencing, previously scheduled for late November, to allow the defence and prosecution to weigh in on the future of the case. Mr. Merchan could also decide to uphold the verdict and proceed to sentencing, delay the case until Mr. Trump leaves office, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Mr. Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court or choose some other option.