Donald Trump's legal team has formally requested the dismissal of the New York criminal case against him, arguing that the conviction threatens to undermine the orderly transfer of power following his 2024 presidential victory.
In a letter to Judge Juan Merchan on Wednesday, Trump's attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove contended that "immediate dismissal of this case is mandated by the federal Constitution, the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, and the interests of justice."
The case centers on Trump's conviction earlier this year on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election campaign.
Trump's attorneys argue that the case interferes with Trump's ability to execute his constitutional duties as President-elect and warned of potential destabilization to governmental operations. They further argued that Trump, as President-elect, enjoys immunity from criminal prosecution under the same principles that protect sitting presidents.
This is a developing story and will be updated when more information becomes available.
Update: 11/20/24, 11:30 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with more information.
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Jon Jackson AND Jesus Mesa
Jon Jackson is an Associate Editor at Newsweek based in New York. His focus is on reporting on the Ukraine ...
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