Picture courtesy: The Week News Desk
(The Post News)- President Donald Trump’s felony conviction was upheld in New York on Monday for falsifying records to cover up a “hush money” sex scandal.
The New York judge finds this ruling justified despite the recent United States Supreme Court ruling that granted presidential immunity.
Judge Juan Merchan said the United States Supreme Court grants immunity only for “official acts” which did not apply in President Trump’s hush money case.
“This Court concludes that if error occurred regarding the introduction of the challenged evidence, such error was harmless in light of the overwhelming evidence of guilt,” Judge Merchan wrote.
“Even if this Court did find that the disputed evidence constitutes official acts under the auspices of the Trump decision, which it does not, Defendant’s motion is still denied as introduction of the disputed evidence constitutes harmless error and no mode of proceedings error has taken place.”
Judge Merchan’s ruling has rejected one of the several avenues that Trump’s attorney has taken in attempt to dismiss Trump’s May guilty verdict on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
The business records contained evidence of payments made to his then lawyer Michael Cohen to reimburse a $130,000 hush money payment to adult-film star Stormy Daniels. The money was purchasing Daniels’ silence about an alleged affair before the 2016 election which President Trump has denied.
Donald Trump’s transition spokesman Steven Cheung finds the decision to uphold President Trump’s attempts to return to the White House without a criminal record unjust.
“This is a direct violation of the Supreme Court’s decision on immunity, and other longstanding jurisprudence.” said Steven Cheung.
The President’s attorney is expected to appeal the New York ruling however should it be upheld, Trump will make history on January 20, 2025, as the first criminal felon to occupy the White House and serve as president.
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