President Donald Trump has officially appealed his criminal conviction in New York related to hush money payments and has hired a new legal team to handle the case, according to Reuters on January 29.
Trump’s five-member legal team from the prestigious law firm Sullivan & Cromwell, led by attorney Robert Giuffra, filed a notice of appeal on January 28, formally beginning the process of challenging his 34 felony convictions.
Appealing Both Conviction and Sentencing Decision
In the filing, Trump’s attorneys challenged both the jury’s guilty verdict from May 30, 2024, and Judge Juan Merchan’s unconditional sentence of no punishment on January 10, 2025.
While the "no punishment" ruling spared Trump from prison or any other penalties, it did not erase the criminal conviction from his record.
As the first sitting U.S. president and first former president ever convicted of a crime, Trump has long vowed to appeal.
Following the notice of appeal, Trump’s legal team has six months to file a more detailed brief outlining their legal arguments.
Case Background
The conviction stems from a $130,000 hush money payment made by Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election.
In May 2024, a New York jury found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with the payment, which prosecutors argued was intended to boost his election chances by covering up damaging allegations.
Trump was indicted in March 2023, and the charges were officially unsealed in April 2023.
While falsifying business records is typically a misdemeanor, it became a felony under New York law because prosecutors argued that it was committed to conceal another crime.
As a Class E felony—the lowest felony level in New York—each charge carried a maximum penalty of four years in prison.
Trump Denies Wrongdoing, Calls Case "Political Persecution"
Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, calling the case a "politically motivated attack" orchestrated by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, in an effort to hurt his 2024 presidential campaign.
“The Manhattan DA’s misuse of criminal law to target President Trump has set a dangerous precedent, and we look forward to having the case overturned on appeal,” said Robert Giuffra, who will lead Trump’s appeal.
Bragg’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to Reuters.
However, Bragg has previously defended the prosecution, noting that his office frequently handles felony falsification of business records cases.
New Legal Team for Appeal
Trump’s lead appellate attorney, Robert Giuffra, is a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell and was previously considered for U.S. Attorney General during Trump’s first term, sources told Reuters in November 2024.
Meanwhile, two of Trump’s former trial attorneys, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, have been appointed to senior positions in the Department of Justice under Trump’s administration.
(Sources: Reuters, The Hill)
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