Legal Battles from Trump’s First Term Follow Him into Second Presidency
TL/DR –
As Donald Trump prepares for his second presidency, he continues to face legal issues from his first term, including a criminal conviction related to falsifying business records in connection with a hush-money payment in the 2016 election. While Justice Juan M. Merchan of the New York Supreme Court has indicated that Trump will not serve prison time or home confinement, the conviction will remain on his record. Other legal proceedings, including civil suits related to the Capital Hill events of January 6, 2021 and a fraud judgment of $486 million, are ongoing.
Trump Trials Continue into Second Term
President-elect Donald Trump’s legal cases from his first term proceed into his second. Trump aims to postpone his sentencing for a criminal conviction set by Justice Juan M. Merchan, airing his grievances against the justice on social media.
Justice Merchan, planning to offer Trump an unconditional discharge despite not recommending any form of confinement, maintains that Trump’s criminal record will be preserved. The President was convicted in May on 34 felony counts related to a 2016 hush-money payment.
Even without penalties, the verdict is a form of accountability for Trump, formally marking him as a felon – a first for a U.S. President. Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, declares that the public has given Trump a “mandate” demanding an end to the “political weaponization of our justice system”.
Justice Merchan dismissed Trump’s request to toss the verdict, showing no sway towards Trump’s claims of presidential immunity. He contends that setting aside the jury verdict would violate the rule of law.
Trump Faces Multiple Indictments
Trump faced four indictments in 2023, including two federal cases later withdrawn and a stalled Georgia case. Though most legal experts believe it difficult to pursue the Georgia case while Trump is in office, Trump continues to face civil proceedings, recently losing an appeal for a new trial in a case brought by New York writer, E. Jean Carroll.
The New York Attorney General is not seeking to dismiss a separate $486 million civil fraud judgement against Trump for allegedly inflating his net worth and lying about the value of his properties. Eight civil lawsuits also accuse Trump of inciting his supporters to storm the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Debate Over Legal Proceedings Continues
In the New York criminal case, Trump’s lawyers successfully pushed the sentencing past Election Day. Trump’s legal team argues the case should be dismissed, citing Trump’s recent victory and the immunity granted to presidents by the U.S. Supreme Court for official acts committed while in office. The inability to overturn the felony conviction remains a source of frustration to Trump.
—
Read More US Political News