Judge Upholds Trump's 34 Felony Convictions in Hush-Money Case, Rejects Immunity Claim

Dec 16, 2024, 11:48 PM

A New York judge has rejected President-elect Donald Trump's bid to dismiss his felony conviction in the hush-money case on the grounds of presidential immunity. Judge Juan Merchan ruled that the case involved unofficial conduct, which does not qualify for immunity protections. This decision upholds Trump's 34 felony convictions for falsifying business records related to payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. The Supreme Court had previously declined to lift a gag order imposed on Trump by Judge Merchan, which barred him from making public statements about officials involved in the case. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has suggested that the court treat Trump as if he had died, a legal maneuver known as abatement-by-death, to ensure the conviction remains in place despite Trump's election victory.