Former U.S. President Donald Trump has formally appealed his 2024 hush money conviction, claiming that “fatal flaws” and constitutional errors undermined the fairness of the New York trial.
In a brief filed late Sunday with a New York appeals court, Trump’s attorneys argued that the verdict should be overturned because the case relied on evidence and legal procedures that violated presidential immunity and due process.
Trump’s Legal Team Cites “Damaging Firsts”
“This is a case of many damaging firsts,” the filing states, arguing that Judge Juan Merchan’s handling of the proceedings — including jury instructions and admissible evidence — led to an unfair outcome.
“This case should never have seen the inside of a courtroom, let alone resulted in a conviction,” Trump’s lawyers wrote.
The appeal accuses prosecutors of introducing evidence that should have been excluded under the Supreme Court’s July 2024 ruling, which limited the use of official presidential acts in criminal proceedings.
Background: The 2024 Hush Money Conviction
In May 2024, a Manhattan jury convicted Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records connected to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Prosecutors said Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels $130,000 to prevent her from publicizing an alleged sexual encounter during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump has consistently denied the encounter and characterized the charges as politically motivated.
Legal Context and Supreme Court Implications
Following Trump’s conviction, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that former presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts performed in office — and that evidence related to such acts cannot be presented at trial. Trump’s team argues that witness Hope Hicks, his former White House communications director, gave testimony about official discussions from his presidency, which they claim violated that ruling.
“Even though this case involved private business records, the jury was exposed to evidence of official presidential acts,” Trump’s attorneys wrote, asserting that the inclusion of such material “tainted the verdict beyond repair.”
What’s Next
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, led by Alvin Bragg, declined immediate comment on the appeal. Legal analysts expect the appeals process to extend well into 2026, potentially influencing Trump’s ongoing campaign activities and broader political strategy.
