Legal twist in hush money case

President-elect Donald Trump is taking an unexpected approach in his New York hush money case, with his legal team planning to argue for a full expungement of his conviction instead of the typical strategy of delaying the proceedings. CNN’s chief legal correspondentPaula Reid broke the news to anchor Erin Burnett and described Trump’s unusual tactic of shutting down the case entirely by asserting presidential immunity.

“This time they will argue in court that Trump, as president-elect, is entitled to the same protection as a sitting president and should be protected from any prosecutors,” Reid explained. “Any action in a state-level proceeding.” The legal argument, which seeks to shield Trump from state-level legal action based on his presidential status, marks a major shift in his defense strategy.

Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case, set a Nov. 12 deadline to decide whether to throw out the conviction following a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. Should he agree with Trump’s team, the conviction would effectively be overturned. according to Reid. “But again, the Trump team isn’t just trying to delay this; they are trying to get this canceled,” Reid emphasized to Burnett, who expressed surprise and called it “a huge development.”

The legal maneuver comes as special counsel Jack Smith continues his investigation into Trump’s alleged election interference, which has led to threats of retaliation from Trump. Trump’s legal troubles include four separate indictments and 34 felony convictions, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars in fines. Still, Trump secured a second term, leaving the legal community to grapple with the implications of a president-elect facing active criminal cases, the report found. Raw story.

Former federal prosecutor Elie Honig provided additional insight, telling Burnett that the outcome of Trump’s request to vacate the conviction “could go either way.” Reflecting on the unprecedented nature of the situation, Honig noted, “This is yet another example of a situation unlike any we have encountered in American history.” He explained that Judge Merchan might consider the broader impact of convicting a president-elect, potentially questioning the feasibility of imposing a sentence on someone who is slated to remain in office for the next four years.

Honig speculated that Judge Merchan would feel inclined to avoid the complexities that could arise from convicting Trump, and mused that Merchan could see the “practical aspects” as reason enough to avoid an uncertain legal and political landscape. “He’s going to be president for the next four years – why would he even get into this mess?” Honig suggested a possible thought process for Merchan.

Trump’s conviction stems from a conviction for falsifying business records related to his hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in order to conceal the payment during his first presidential campaign. While the case has already led to felony convictions, Trump’s legal team is now leaning on his status as president-elect to argue that his new role offers him protection from legal repercussions at the state level.

This bold move by Trump’s team introduces an unprecedented argument over presidential immunity, raising questions about how the legal system will navigate a president-elect actively under legal scrutiny. As Merchan’s deadline for a decision approaches, the outcome could redefine the boundaries of legal liability for sitting and future presidents, making this case one to watch in the coming weeks.