Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance pointed out that during his Stormy Daniels trial, Donald Trump did not bring up his right to presidential immunity. Vance believes this could strengthen Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case against Trump’s appeal to have his conviction overturned on presidential immunity grounds.
Trump filed his appeal on July 24, arguing that a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity should invalidate his conviction related to hush-money payments. However, Bragg has responded by asserting that this Supreme Court decision does not apply to Trump’s case and that Trump does not have the right to appeal based on presidential immunity.
In her legal blog, Vance stated, “Bragg makes a compelling argument. Trump missed the window to raise the immunity issue when required by law, so he has forfeited his chance to do so now. Typically, this would lead the judge to reject the defendant’s motion.”
Vance also highlighted that the evidence against Trump does not pertain to his official presidential duties, as they were private discussions within the Oval Office.
Trump’s attorneys, Emil Bove and Todd Blanche, claim that Trump’s conversations about Stormy Daniels while in the White House are protected by absolute presidential immunity. They are seeking to have Trump’s convictions for falsifying business records overturned, arguing that evidence related to his discussions during his time as president should not have been presented in court.
Trump’s legal team’s argument is based on a Supreme Court ruling that outlines different levels of immunity for presidential acts.
Despite Trump’s efforts to have his convictions dismissed, Bragg remains steadfast in his position that Trump’s presidential immunity claim does not hold merit in this situation.