NEW YORK – Donald Trump’s lawyers have asked the judge who oversaw his Manhattan hush-money trial, which ended in a conviction on 34 felony counts, to throw out the case now that Trump has been elected president.
Dismissing the case is “necessary to prevent unconstitutional impediments to President Trump’s ability to govern,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a letter to the court made public Tuesday.
In light of Trump’s request, Judge Juan Merchan agreed to pause all proceedings in the case, including a ruling expected Tuesday on whether the Supreme Court’s July decision on presidential immunity requires the conviction of Trump is repealed. The case has now been adjourned until November 19.
Before the election, Merchan had a sentencing hearing scheduled for Nov. 26, but it now appears unlikely that hearing will take place as scheduled. Prosecutors in District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office in Manhattan asked the judge to “postpone the upcoming scheduled dates” so prosecutors can review the “unprecedented circumstances” of a convicted felon being elected president.
