New York Judge Upholds Trump's Conviction in Hush Money Case

New York, Dec 17 (NationPress) A state judge has upheld the conviction of President-Elect Donald Trump in the hush money matter, dismissing his assertion that a Supreme Court ruling regarding presidential immunity pertained to this case. Judge Juan Merchan has cast a criminal conviction shadow over Trump as he gears up to take office next month.

The judge clarified that the Supreme Court ruling was limited to Trump's official actions and did not extend to his personal behavior.

Previously, the judge had consented to an indefinite postponement of Trump's sentencing in the case concerning his falsification of business records linked to hush money payments made to a porn star, which were incorrectly documented as legal expenses.

These payments were processed through Trump's attorney to ensure the porn star would remain silent regarding her claims of an affair with him. Each cheque was categorized as a separate offense, creating the impression that Trump faced 34 criminal charges.

This case was initiated by a local prosecutor, elected under the Democratic Party banner in New York.

Trump currently has a petition pending that seeks to dismiss the hush money case, arguing that it would obstruct his duties as President.

Two federal cases against Trump were dismissed upon the Special Prosecutor's request following his election as President.

One case involved allegations of election interference related to his purported involvement in the January 6, 2021 riots, where supporters stormed the Capitol while Congress was certifying Joe Biden's election.

Trump has vowed to pardon numerous individuals convicted for their roles in the riots or those with ongoing cases.

The second case, concerning mishandling classified documents after his first term, was dismissed by a judge in July on procedural grounds.

Another local election interference case in Georgia is mired in accusations of misconduct by the prosecutor who enlisted her ex-boyfriend for assistance in the prosecution.

Last weekend, Trump achieved a significant win when ABC News, along with its prominent anchor George Stephanopoulos, settled a defamation lawsuit he filed against them for claiming he had raped a woman.

The agreement included a public acknowledgment of regret for the allegation and a $15 million settlement, which will fund Trump's presidential library rather than enriching him.

During a news conference on Monday, Trump stated, “We must correct the press,” and threatened to pursue legal action against media outlets he accused of misinformation or those who incite such behavior.

He singled out the Des Moines Register in Iowa, which published a pre-election poll indicating he was losing there, although he ultimately won the state by a 13% margin.

Trump labeled the erroneous report as election interference and vowed to file a lawsuit.

Furthermore, he criticized the Pulitzer Prize Board, based at Columbia University, which awards the top journalism accolades in the U.S.

Trump has a libel case pending against the Pulitzer Board regarding a prize awarded to The New York Times and The Washington Post for their reports alleging connections between Russia and his campaign during the 2016 election.

After a two-year investigation, Special Counsel Robert Mueller disproved the allegations of Russian interference in elections, yet the Pulitzer Board maintained its award to the newspapers.