NEW YORK — Following the announcement by New York prosecutors that they will contest efforts to dismiss Donald Trump’s hush money conviction, the attorneys for the president-elect implored a judge to disregard the prosecutors’ objections and swiftly resolve the case prior to Trump assuming office again in January.
In a letter submitted on Wednesday to Judge Juan M. Merchan, Trump’s legal representatives, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, reiterated their ongoing position. They argued that allowing the case to progress would disrupt Trump’s preparations for re-entering the presidency and hinder his capacity to fulfill his duties as leader of the nation.
The legal team indicated plans to formally present their dismissal motion and requested that the judge set a deadline of December 20, coinciding with when Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office is anticipated to outline its forthcoming actions regarding two federal cases related to Trump.
Blanche and Bove appealed to Merchan to consider the choice made by voters who elected Trump rather than the prosecutors, frequently referred to in legal contexts as embodying the “People of the State of New York.” They cautioned that extending the legal battles into Trump’s new term could lead to an extended series of appeals if the case they described as “politically motivated and severely flawed” is not resolved promptly.
“On November 5, 2024 the Nation’s People issued a mandate that supersedes the motivations of (the district attorney’s) ‘People,’” the attorneys emphasized. They firmly stated that the court should immediately dismiss the case.
Trump has appointed both Blanche and Bove to prominent roles within the Justice Department.
Earlier this year, Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records intended to conceal a strategy aimed at swaying the 2016 presidential election through the payment of hush money related to claims of extramarital affairs. Trump has consistently denied these allegations.
In a court document filed on Tuesday, the Manhattan district attorney’s office expressed its resistance to any moves to dismiss Trump’s case, although they did signal a willingness to potentially postpone his sentencing until after his new term begins. District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office maintained that Trump’s impending presidency does not provide sufficient grounds to abandon a case already determined by a jury.
Still, prosecutors noted “the need to balance competing constitutional interests” and remarked that it is necessary to “give consideration” to the possibility of pausing proceedings and deferring Trump’s sentencing until he leaves office.
In their filing, the prosecutors proposed a faster timeline than the defense for addressing the dismissal request, suggesting that the defense should submit their documents within the upcoming weeks to allow for a response by December 9.
As of now, Judge Merchan has not provided a timeline for proceedings or indicated when he will make a ruling. In the interim, the case remains essentially on hold, and Trump’s sentencing, originally scheduled for November 26, will not take place as planned.
Should the case be dismissed, it would nullify Trump’s conviction, marking a historic moment as it would be the first conviction of both a former and a prospective U.S. president. However, if the verdict is upheld and goes to sentencing, possible consequences for Trump may include fines, probation, or a term of imprisonment lasting up to four years.