Trump tries to get 2024 conviction in hush money corruption case thrown out

The Guardian · CBS News and CBS News report that President Donald Trump's lawyers are due in a New York appeals court on Thursday to seek reversal of his May 2024 hush money conviction. Both sides expect the fight to reach the state's highest court, CBS News says, and possibly the U.S. Supreme Court.

The jury found Trump guilty of falsifying records on reimbursements to his then-attorney Michael Cohen, who had paid Stormy Daniels $130,000 shortly before the 2016 election for her silence about an alleged encounter. Trump denies it. CBS News counts 34 felonies; the Guardian adds that the judge imposed an unconditional discharge in January 2025, with no jail or fine. Attorney Robert Giuffra argues federal election law preempts state prosecution and that presidential immunity was violated. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office says the conduct was unofficial.

Separately, the Guardian reports that a federal judge declined for the third time in August to move the case to federal court, with appeal arguments set for 16 November. CBS News adds that Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who handled that effort, died a week ago.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Guardian · CBS News and CBS News’s reporting. Read the full story at The Guardian · CBS News → Also at CBS News →