In a significant legal development, Judge Juan Merchan has ruled that Donald Trump’s conviction in the Hush Money case will not be overturned by presidential immunity. Despite Trump’s legal team attempting to invoke his immunity following his 2024 election victory, Judge Merchan clarified that the evidence in the case was unrelated to any official actions Trump took as president.
Trump had been charged with 34 felony counts related to his alleged involvement in a scheme to silence an adult film actress with hush money payments before the 2016 election. His defense argued that his actions were protected under presidential immunity, a ruling previously supported by the U.S. Supreme Court in July 2024 for official acts committed by a sitting president. However, Merchan ruled that the payments and subsequent cover-up were purely personal actions and not related to Trump’s presidential duties.
In his 41-page ruling, Merchan emphasized that even if some evidence was contested, it was deemed “harmless” due to the overwhelming evidence of Trump’s guilt. The judge stated that Trump’s actions, including falsifying records to conceal the payments, were “unofficial acts” and therefore not covered by immunity protections. As a result, Trump’s conviction stands, and his efforts to shield himself with presidential immunity were unsuccessful.
This ruling marks a significant moment in the case, especially considering Trump’s previous attempt to use his legal status as a sitting president to avoid legal consequences. It underscores the idea that actions taken for personal reasons, even by a president, cannot be shielded by immunity.