Prosecutors in New York have urged a judge to reject Donald Trump’s request to dismiss the hush money case after his recent conviction for making illegal payments to a porn star during the 2016 election campaign. In a court filing made public on Tuesday, prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office argued that Trump should not be granted special treatment due to his upcoming presidential term, which begins on January 20. They emphasized that the case should proceed and be handled according to the law, asserting that dismissing it would not be appropriate.
Despite Trump’s legal team suggesting that his election win could potentially exempt him from jail time, prosecutors rejected the notion of dropping the charges. They contended that the case, involving hush money payments intended to silence allegations of an affair, should not be set aside merely because Trump is preparing for a second presidential run. Trump’s defense had raised concerns that the case could create distractions and hinder his ability to govern, but prosecutors maintained that it must be treated as a legal matter independent of his political career.
The judge in the case, Justice Juan Merchan, will ultimately decide whether to grant Trump’s request, with significant implications for both his legal future and his presidential ambitions.
