In a Dec. 3 filing revealed on Tuesday, Donald Trump’s legal team accused jurors of misconduct in his criminal trial. They claimed the alleged misconduct tainted his conviction for falsifying business records related to hush money payments to adult film actor Stormy Daniels. However, the filing left many details vague, as most of it was heavily redacted.
Defense Pressures Judge Merchan to Act
Trump’s lawyers urged Justice Juan Merchan to consider their allegations while ruling on their separate motion to dismiss the charges. They emphasized the need to weigh these claims, particularly since they believe the looming conviction could disrupt Trump’s ability to govern if it remains unresolved during his second term as president.
Prosecutors, however, pushed back hard. In a Dec. 5 letter made public on Tuesday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office dismissed the allegations as “vague” and lacking evidence. They argued Trump’s defense team relied on “unsworn, untested, and at least partially inaccurate allegations.”
Merchan, who had previously ruled that the jurors in Trump’s trial remain anonymous, warned that fully revealing the misconduct allegations without redactions could jeopardize their safety.
Case Background: The $130,000 Payment
The charges stem from a $130,000 payment that Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, made to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Daniels alleged a past sexual encounter with Trump, which he denies. The Manhattan jury convicted Trump in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records, marking the first time in U.S. history that a former or sitting president faced criminal charges.
Prosecutors argued that the payment and subsequent record falsifications aimed to silence Daniels and influence the 2016 election. Meanwhile, Trump’s defense has consistently claimed the trial lacked fairness and was politically motivated.
Legal Battles Continue
Despite the conviction, Trump’s defense team continues to fight. After his Nov. 5 election victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s lawyers ramped up efforts to overturn the verdict. They argued that allowing the conviction to hang over Trump’s presidency would hinder his governance after he takes office on Jan. 20.
Prosecutors suggested alternative measures, such as ensuring Trump avoids prison time, to address these concerns. However, they refused to consider overturning the conviction outright.
In a decisive move on Monday, Merchan denied Trump’s latest motion to dismiss the case. Trump’s legal team cited the Supreme Court’s July ruling, which grants immunity from prosecution for official presidential acts, as grounds to invalidate the verdict. The judge sided with prosecutors, ruling that Trump’s actions in the hush money case were personal, not official.
What Lies Ahead
As Trump’s legal battles intensify, the clash between the defense and prosecutors shows no signs of slowing down. Both sides remain entrenched in their arguments, with Trump’s team seeking to clear his name while prosecutors aim to uphold the conviction. Transitioning back into the White House in January could complicate Trump’s legal fight, but the case underscores the unprecedented nature of this political and legal saga.
