Trump's lawyers file request to 'dismiss case'

Lawyers for U.S. President-elect Trump have submitted a formal request to New York Court Judge Juan Merchan, stating that the case against their client should be dismissed.

Trump's lawyers argued that their client has won the presidential election and is in the process of preparing to take office on January 20, and that the case in question "harms the presidential transition process."

Stating that "the improper continuation of this already failed legal case is disrupting Trump's transition efforts," the lawyers requested that Judge Merchan dismiss the case as soon as possible.

According to relevant laws, the court has until December 9 to reach a decision.

Following the presidential election in November, Judge Merchan had accepted the request to challenge the "hush money" case opened against U.S. President-elect Trump in New York Court and had indefinitely postponed the sentencing.

TRUMP'S 'HUSH MONEY' CASE

Donald Trump was indicted by a grand jury on March 18, 2023, following an investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office into an illegal "hush money" payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election.

Denying the charges against him, Trump began standing trial in New York on April 15, 2024, and following 6 weeks of hearings, was found guilty by a jury on May 31 on all 34 counts.

The U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that Trump has "some immunity" regarding his role in the January 6 Capitol riot and allegations of interference in the 2020 presidential election.

The court decided by a 6-to-3 vote that Trump has immunity from prosecution for his official acts, but that this immunity does not apply to his private conduct.

Following this, New York Court Judge Juan Merchan announced in a written statement that the sentencing for Trump's "hush money" case, which was expected on September 18, had been postponed to November 26, after the November 5 U.S. Presidential Election.