President Trump pursued an appeal of his May 2024 felony conviction in New York related to allegations of falsifying business records in connection with a hush-money payment. Trump was found guilty on all charges after a jury determined he altered records to conceal a $130,000 payment made by his former attorney Michael Cohen to adult film performer Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Trump has consistently maintained his innocence and stated that no sexual encounter with Daniels occurred.
A judge in the case granted Trump an unconditional discharge in early January 2025, leaving him as a convicted felon but imposing no jail time, fine, or other penalty. On Thursday, a five-judge appellate panel heard arguments from both sides regarding whether the conviction should be overturned. Trump’s legal team argued that prosecutors presented weak evidence of his knowledge of Cohen’s dealings and contended that the payments constituted legitimate legal expenses intended to protect his family from embarrassment.
Key disputes centered on whether state prosecutors improperly relied on federal campaign finance law in bringing charges for falsifying business records, and whether jurors should have heard evidence related to Trump’s official conduct during his first presidency. Trump’s attorneys invoked presidential immunity protections granted by the Supreme Court, arguing that his responses to the Daniels matter qualified as official acts. Manhattan prosecutors countered that Trump’s private discussions about a personal matter did not constitute protected official conduct and that substantial evidence supported conviction regardless.
Meanwhile, Trump’s legal team has pursued parallel efforts in federal court to move the case and have it dismissed on immunity grounds. A federal judge declined to transfer the case for a third time in August, a decision Trump’s attorneys are appealing with arguments scheduled for November 16. The appellate panel did not indicate when it would issue a ruling on the state conviction appeal.
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