Judge Merchan Rejects Trump’s Immunity Arguments in NY Business Records Case

The decision is tied to an earlier U.S. Supreme Court decision that held presidents enjoy different levels of immunity from prosecution for official acts.

Former President Donald Trump attends his trial for allegedly falsifying business records at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on May 14, 2024. Michael M. Santiago/AFP

New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan rejected on Dec. 16 a long list of immunity-related arguments made by President-elect Donald Trump in an attempt to have the guilty verdict he received earlier this year thrown out.

Trump had argued that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office improperly used certain evidence, including former White House advisers’ testimonies, since it contained material covered by presidential immunity.