"Trump was convicted in May 2024 of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels, whose affair allegations threatened to upend his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump denies her claim and said he did nothing wrong. It was the only one of the four criminal cases against him to go to trial. Trump was sentenced in January to what's known as an unconditional discharge, leaving his conviction on the books but sparing him jail, probation, a fine or other punishment. Appearing by video at his sentencing, Trump called the case a "political witch hunt," "a weaponization of government" and "an embarrassment to New York.""
"At trial, prosecutors said Trump mislabeled payments to his then-lawyer Michael Cohen as legal fees to conceal that he was actually reimbursing the $130,000 that Cohen paid Daniels to keep her quiet in the final weeks of Trump's successful 2016 presidential run. At the time, Daniels was considering going public with a claim that she and the married Trump had a 2006 sexual encounter that Trump has consistently denied."
Lawyers for President Donald Trump asked a New York state appeals court to overturn his 34-count conviction for falsifying business records, arguing federal law preempts state law and that there was no criminal intent. The written arguments were filed shortly before midnight. Earlier filings sought removal of the case to federal court to allow a presidential-immunity challenge; that request remains pending. The conviction stemmed from alleged reimbursement of Michael Cohen's $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign. Trump received an unconditional discharge in January, leaving the conviction on the record without jail, fines, or probation. The Manhattan DA will have an opportunity to respond.
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