Trump formally appeals New York criminal conviction

Published: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 7:20 am

Trump Appeals New York Criminal Conviction, Citing Trial Flaws

President Donald Trump has formally appealed his May 2024 criminal conviction in New York, seeking to overturn the verdict. The appeal, filed with the state's Supreme Court, centers on claims of a flawed trial process.

Trump's legal team, in a 96-page filing, argues the trial was "fatally marred" by several factors. They assert the charges were politically motivated and that the judge presiding over the case was compromised. The defense also contends that evidence presented during the trial should not have been admitted.

The conviction stemmed from 34 counts related to the falsification of business records. These records were allegedly falsified to conceal hush-money payments made to Stormy Daniels, a pornographic film actress, to prevent information about an alleged affair from surfacing during the 2016 presidential campaign.

New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, brought felony charges against Trump by arguing the falsification was done in furtherance of another crime: violating state election interference laws. Trump's lawyers claim Bragg "concocted a purported felony" by using a "convoluted legal theory."

The appeal also criticizes Judge Juan Merchan, alleging he should have recused himself due to a prior political donation. Furthermore, the filing argues that Merchan improperly allowed the introduction of official presidential acts, contradicting a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.

Trump's legal team maintains that the trial violated his constitutional rights, federal law, and New York law. They argue that Trump was denied a fair trial before a neutral judge and a properly instructed jury. Trump has previously attempted to overturn the conviction through other legal avenues, including seeking to move the case to federal court.

BNN's Perspective:

The appeal highlights significant legal challenges to the conviction, raising questions about the fairness and impartiality of the trial. While the legal arguments presented by Trump's team warrant consideration, the conviction itself reflects a serious breach of public trust. The outcome of this appeal will have significant implications for the legal landscape and the future of political discourse.

Keywords: Donald Trump, appeal, New York, criminal conviction, trial, legal, Supreme Court, Alvin Bragg, Juan Merchan, Stormy Daniels, business records, falsification, hush money, election interference, presidential immunity, political, conviction, legal arguments

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