Trump's lawyers argue appeal in "hush money" case

A New York appellate court heard Donald Trump's bid to erase his conviction on 34 felony counts stemming from a 2016 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. His attorney Robert Giuffra contended that jurors received faulty guidance because they were allowed to treat violations of federal election law as the additional crime that raised the charges from misdemeanors. Trump has long maintained that the federal statute, FECA, bars a state from bringing this prosecution. Giuffra also said jurors should have had to agree unanimously on which other crime Trump intended, according to CBS News.

Steven Wu, arguing for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, noted that a federal court has twice turned down the preemption theory. He added that Trump's trial lawyers had themselves said unanimity was not legally required, and that Judge Juan Merchan declined to alter the law. A five-judge panel interrupted both advocates often with pointed questions.

Immunity was also contested, specifically whether social media posts shown to jurors and testimony from former White House communications director Hope Hicks were shielded. One judge suggested her account might sit in a gray area of presidential duties. Trump's legal team called the case a witch hunt.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CBS News’s reporting. Read the full story at CBS News →