It’s been a week since former President Donald Trump became president-elect for a second time. His recent reelection has called into question at least one of his other titles: convicted felon.
A Manhattan judge is set to decide whether to uphold Trump’s guilty verdict on 34 charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election by paying a porn actor who said the two had sex to keep quiet.
In July, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for “official acts.” However, they didn’t specify what those acts include.
Now, Judge Juan Merchan is set to issue a written opinion Tuesday, Nov. 12, on Trump’s request to toss his conviction. He’ll either order a new trial or dismiss the indictment entirely.
Merchan was set to make the ruling in September but put it off “to avoid any appearance” he was trying to sway this year’s election.
While Trump wasn’t president when the so-called “hush money” payment was made, he had taken office by the time his then-lawyer Michael Cohen was reimbursed for the payment.
