Donald Trump’s lawyers are seeking a delay for his New York hush money trial until the Supreme Court determines if he has blanket immunity as president. They argue that the Constitution protects presidents from state prosecution for “official acts,” including things he’s said about a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels being part of his job.
The request for a delay was made in an eleventh-hour filing in Manhattan, where Trump’s attorneys asked the New York Supreme Court Justice to postpone the trial start date until the US Supreme Court rules on his federal election interference case in April. They claim that the Supreme Court is expected to address the scope of “official acts” for applying presidential immunity in the case.
The defense filing does not explain how Trump’s alleged falsification of business documents in the Manhattan felony case can be considered “official acts.” He is accused of concealing the hush money payment to Daniels as legal expenses, which prosecutors argue was an illegal campaign expenditure made to silence the porn actress before the 2016 election.
Manhattan prosecutors have not yet responded to the filing. This is a developing story, and more details may emerge as the case progresses.