Official court rulings or statements from Judge Merchan

Trump's Lawyers Allege Juror Misconduct in Bid to Dismiss Hush Money Conviction Over $130,000 Payment to Stormy Daniels

Dec 17, 2024, 09:00 PM

Lawyers for President-elect Donald Trump have alleged 'grave juror misconduct' in their latest effort to have his conviction in the New York hush money case dismissed. The allegations were made in a letter to Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan, though the specific details of the misconduct remain redacted from public view. Trump's legal team, led by attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, argued that the misconduct violated Trump's rights under both federal and New York law. The Manhattan District Attorney's office, which prosecuted the case, has called the allegations 'unsworn, unsupported' hearsay and part of a last-ditch effort to undermine public confidence in the case. Judge Merchan has emphasized that allegations of juror misconduct should be thoroughly investigated but cannot be decided on the basis of mere hearsay and conjecture. This development comes as Trump continues to fight his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.