Former President Donald Trump has officially appealed his hush money conviction, initiating a legal battle to reverse the verdict that marked a historic first: a person with a criminal record winning the presidency.
On Wednesday, Trump’s legal team submitted a notice of appeal, challenging his May conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The appeal is directed to the New York State appeals court, the initial step in seeking to overturn the lower court’s decision.
The case revolves around payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the crucial 2016 Republican presidential campaign. Prosecutors successfully argued that these payments were illegally disguised as legal expenses to conceal a hush money scheme. This was the only criminal case against Trump that proceeded to trial, adding significant weight to its outcome.
The formal notice of appeal is the starting gun in a potentially lengthy legal process. Trump’s lawyers will subsequently file more detailed arguments outlining the grounds for their appeal. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, which led the prosecution, will then have the opportunity to respond with their legal counter-arguments. A request for comment from the District Attorney’s office was made on Wednesday.
In a significant move for the appeal phase, Trump has enlisted a new legal powerhouse from Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. Robert J. Giuffra Jr., the firm’s co-chair, is spearheading the defense. This change in legal representation comes as Trump’s previous lead lawyers, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, are expected to take up senior positions within his administration’s Justice Department.
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Giuffra issued a statement through a Trump spokesperson emphasizing the high stakes of this appeal. He stated, “President Donald J. Trump’s appeal is important for the rule of law, New York’s standing as a global hub for business, finance, and law, and crucially, for the office of the presidency and all public servants.” He further argued, “The Manhattan DA’s office’s weaponization of criminal law against President Trump establishes a perilous precedent, and we are confident that the appeal will result in the case’s dismissal.”
Trump received his sentence on January 10 – an unconditional discharge. While this sentence avoids jail time, probation, or fines, the conviction itself remains on his record. He had long maintained his intention to appeal, but was legally required to wait until sentencing to formally initiate the process.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Judge Juan M. Merchan, who presided over the trial, consistently rejected attempts by Trump’s defense to dismiss the case. These attempts included arguments based on presidential immunity and the implications of Trump’s return to the White House.
In a video appearance during his sentencing, Trump reiterated his strong views on the case, labeling it a “political witch hunt,” and “a weaponization of government,” further adding it was “an embarrassment to New York.”
The Manhattan jury’s guilty verdict in May centered on the falsification of business records within the Trump Organization. While the charges were technically focused on accounting entries, the underlying narrative was deeply intertwined with the 2016 election and allegations of hidden payments.
Prosecutors successfully presented evidence that Trump had intentionally misclassified payments to his then-personal attorney, Michael Cohen. These payments, disguised as legal fees, were allegedly reimbursements for a $130,000 payment Cohen made to Stormy Daniels. The timing of this payment was critical, occurring in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential race.
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Daniels had been considering publicly disclosing claims of a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, allegations Trump firmly denies. Trump and his legal team maintained that payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.
“For this I got indicted,” Trump stated at his sentencing, expressing disbelief. “It’s incredible, actually.”
Defense arguments also contended that Trump’s motivation was to protect his family from potentially false allegations, not to influence the election.
It’s important to note that any presidential pardon power is irrelevant in this case. As the trial took place in state court, presidential pardons, which only apply to federal crimes, cannot be used to overturn the conviction. The appeal process within the New York state legal system is now Trump’s primary avenue to challenge the hush money conviction.
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