A New York judge has ruled that Donald Trump's conviction
for falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal should
stand.
The case stems from $130,000 payment made by Trump's former
lawyer to adult film actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the
2016 election.
Trump denies that the payment was made to silence her
about an alleged affair.
On Monday, the judge rejected arguments from Trump's legal team
that presidential immunity invalidates the verdict that found him guilty
of 34 of falsifying business records to cover up the
payment.
In a 41 page court ruling, Justice Juan Merchant said
Trump's actions were, quote, decidedly personal and did not interfere
with presidential authority.
Trump's lawyers had argued this case would hinder his presidency,
but prosecutors say overturning the jury's decision would be a,
quote, extreme remedy.
Trump's lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for
comment.
When a Manhattan jury found him guilty in May and
made Trump the 1st U.S.
President to be criminally convicted, Trump pleaded not guilty, calling
the case an attempt to disrupt his 2024 campaign.
The now president-elect was initially scheduled to be sentenced on
November 26th.
That has been postponed indefinitely after his November election victory
over Vice President Kamala Harris.