Prosecutors request stay in Trump NY case until 2029 as defense plans motion for dismissal ‘once and for all’
New York prosecutors are seeking a stay in the case against former President Trump until at least 2029, as his defense attorneys prepare to move to dismiss the charges entirely. The prosecutors wrote a letter to Judge Juan Merchan, who had previously granted a stay on all deadlines associated with the conviction proceedings against Trump in the final months before he takes office.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg wrote to Judge Merchan on Tuesday, stating that Trump’s inauguration as President will occur on January 20, 2025, following his election on November 5, 2024. Bragg emphasized the need to balance constitutional interests and consider various options to address concerns raised by a post-trial criminal proceeding during Trump’s presidency. These options may include deferring all remaining criminal proceedings until after the end of Trump’s upcoming presidential term.
Trump’s legal team, who had filed a motion to vacate the charges, supported the stay requested by the prosecutors. They argued that evidence presented during the trial, which included testimony from former White House officials and related to Trump’s official acts as President, should not have been admitted. The attorneys also cited the United States Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity from prosecution for official acts in office.
The Supreme Court’s ruling, which stemmed from a separate federal case related to events on Jan. 6, 2021, established that former presidents have substantial immunity from prosecution for official acts. Trump’s attorneys argued that the evidence presented by the prosecutors during the trial violated this immunity doctrine and called for the charges to be dismissed.
The Supreme Court’s decision does not allow for exceptions based on overwhelming evidence or harmless errors, according to Trump’s legal team. They maintained that the charges against Trump must be dismissed due to the violation of the Presidential immunity doctrine.
As Trump prepares to take office as the 47th President of the United States in January 2025, both the prosecutors and the defense team are working to address the legal challenges surrounding the case. The stay granted by Judge Merchan will allow for further evaluation of the impact of Trump’s presidency on the criminal proceedings against him. The fate of the case against Trump in New York remains uncertain as both sides navigate the complex legal issues at hand.
