On Wednesday, attorneys for former President Donald Trump filed an appeal against a New York judge’s ruling that he is unable to claim presidential immunity as a defense from prosecution in his upcoming criminal trial.
Trump is facing 34 state felony charges in New York relating to alleged falsifications of business records to hide a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in order to keep the so-called extramarital affair out of the newspapers ahead of the election in 2016. New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan ruled that Trump could not use the defense of presidential immunity for the charges he faces but the former president has now appealed that ruling to the Appellate Division as well as the judges decision to not recuse himself from the trial.
The notice to appeal Merchan’s two rulings was received by the Appellate Division and must hold a hearing by May 6th. The two-page appeal written by Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche has been sealed from the public.