Donald Trump is asking a judge in New York to drop the criminal charges against him, saying the case would make it harder for him to do his job as president. In May, Trump was found guilty of paying $130,000 to a woman named Stormy Daniels, who claimed she had an affair with him, which he denies. Trump’s lawyers say the case is politically motivated, and they want the charges removed before he takes office again.
The case started back in 2018 when Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels to keep quiet. A New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying records to hide the payment. If sentenced, he could face up to four years in prison, but many think he may get a fine or probation instead. Trump’s team argues that continuing the case after his election victory would get in the way of his duties as president, especially since the case is about events from years ago.
Trump is also facing other charges in different cases, including one about classified documents he kept after leaving office, and another about his efforts to change the 2020 election results. But none of these cases have gone to trial yet. While Trump is fighting these legal battles, he can’t stop state court cases like the one in New York or Georgia, even as president.
