NEW YORK: Trump asked the Supreme Court to consider whether his guilty verdict on 34 felony counts should be thrown out in light of his presidential victory and the Supreme Court’s July ruling giving him some immunity from criminal charges.
The president-elect asked the Supreme Court to consider whether evidence used at his trial violated the high court’s immunity ruling which said Trump can’t be prosecuted based on his “official acts” as president and whether presidents-elect have immunity from criminal prosecution.
His request comes after a New York appeals court judge denied Trump’s request to pause all proceedings in his Manhattan criminal case on Tuesday while he tries to have the guilty verdict thrown out, meaning his sentencing will take place at 9:30 a.m. EST Friday unless the Supreme Court stops it.
New York Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw his trial, has twice rejected Trump’s requests to have the verdict against him thrown out, and scheduled the sentencing for Friday despite prosecutors suggesting it should take place after Trump leaves office.
The appeals court’s ruling came after a hearing Tuesday in Manhattan, in which Trump’s lawyers argued the case should be paused because Trump also has immunity as the president-elect, also claiming Merchan’s rulings upholding the verdict are “causing ongoing, irreparable harm by depriving President Trump of his constitutional rights.”
