Official federal court rulings or announcements

President-elect Trump Asks New York Judge to Dismiss 34-Count Hush Money Conviction, Citing Hunter Biden Pardon

Dec 3, 2024, 09:57 PM

President-elect Donald Trump's attorneys have formally requested New York Judge Juan Merchan to dismiss his conviction on 34 felony counts involving hush money payments. The conviction, delivered in May, pertains to falsifying business records related to payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Trump's legal team argues that proceeding with the case would cause unconstitutional disruptions to the institution of the presidency and threatens the balance of power. They cite President Joe Biden's recent 10-year pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, covering any and all crimes, as evidence of a two-tiered justice system. The attorneys contend that the president-elect should not be subject to state prosecution, asserting that the charges unfairly target Trump and threaten the functioning of the U.S. government.