Trump Lawyers Challenge Hush Money Conviction Amid Presidential Immunity Debate

Former President Donald Trump's legal team argues that Manhattan prosecutors improperly used evidence of his official acts to secure a conviction on charges related to hush money payments. They claim this breaches presidential immunity rules, seeking to overturn the verdict. A decision is expected by September.

NEW YORK, July 11 (Reuters) - Lawyers for ex-President Donald Trump have asserted that Manhattan prosecutors misused evidence of Trump’s official acts in obtaining his conviction on charges tied to hush money payments to a porn star.

In a court filing dated July 10 and publicized Thursday, Trump's defense argued that the guilty verdict should be nullified in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity. The evidence cited included Trump’s conversations with former White House aide Hope Hicks and some of his Twitter activity while in office.

The defense contended that presenting official acts evidence was unconstitutional, calling for the jury’s decision to be vacated. Justice Juan Merchan recently delayed Trump’s sentencing by two months, with prosecutors mandated to respond by July 24.