Donald Trump’s lawyers were scheduled to argue Thursday before a New York appeals court that his 34-count hush money conviction should be overturned. The hearing was listed as a planned appearance; no outcome or confirmation that arguments took place was available in the reports.
The appeal challenges Trump’s conviction for falsifying business records in a case tied to reimbursements to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen. A jury found Trump guilty in May 2024 after Cohen paid $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election. Daniels had alleged a sexual encounter with Trump years earlier, which he denies.
Trump’s lawyers argue that federal election laws should prevent New York from prosecuting the case. They also contend that prosecutors relied on evidence protected by presidential immunity and did not establish the required intent to defraud. Those claims are arguments for the appeals panel to consider, not findings by the court.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office has argued that the conduct at issue was private, rather than part of Trump’s official presidential duties. The case was set before the Appellate Division, First Department, where each side was allotted 15 minutes to address the judges’ questions, according to the Associated Press.
The conviction is also documented in a New York court record. Both sides have indicated that further appeals could follow, potentially bringing the dispute to New York’s highest court and, in turn, the U.S. Supreme Court. The scheduled hearing itself would not change the conviction unless a court later rules on the appeal.
Nicole French 
Reid Bentley