Judge Rejects Trump's Immunity Claim in Hush Money Conviction Appeal

The court ruled that Trump's actions tied to falsifying business records were personal and not protected as official presidential acts.

Judge Juan Merchan dismissed Donald Trump's appeal to overturn his Manhattan criminal conviction for falsifying business records related to hush money payments.
The judge ruled that Trump's actions, including signing checks and filing a government ethics form, fell outside the scope of presidential immunity as they were personal rather than official acts.
Testimonies from former aides Hope Hicks and Madeleine Westerhout were deemed inadmissible for immunity claims, as they pertained to unofficial conduct.
The court determined that Trump's tweets and Michael Cohen's testimony also did not qualify as protected presidential acts under the Supreme Court's immunity framework.
Legal experts view the Manhattan case as an exception among Trump's legal challenges, with other cases dismissed or stalled following his re-election last month.