Defense attorney Robert Giuffra Jr. asserted that the trial court erred by allowing testimony from former aide Hope Hicks and social media posts, arguing these constituted shielded official acts. The defense also claimed jurors should have been mandated to agree unanimously on the specific underlying offense that elevated the charges to felonies. Prosecutors maintained that the records were deliberately falsified to hide an election conspiracy and that the challenged evidence involved purely personal matters. The panel questioned both sides on whether any improperly admitted evidence could be considered harmless, and a ruling has not yet been issued.
Key points
A five-judge New York appellate panel is reviewing Donald Trump's May 2024 conviction acr…: A five-judge New York appellate panel is reviewing Donald Trump's May 2024 conviction across 34 felony counts.
Trump's legal team is challenging the Manhattan District Attorney's use of federal electi…: Trump's legal team is challenging the Manhattan District Attorney's use of federal election law to elevate misdemeanor falsification charges into felonies.
The appellate court questioned whether disputed evidence could be deemed harmless and has…: The appellate court questioned whether disputed evidence could be deemed harmless and has not yet issued a decision on the verdict.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
US President Donald Trump is once again under judicial scrutiny. Nearly two years after a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts connected to a hush money payment made before the 2016 presidential election, Trump's legal team is attempting to have the historic verdict overturned. The latest challenge brought the President's lawyers face to face with a five-judge appeals panel, which closely examined questions surrounding presidential immunity, election laws and the evidence presented during his trial.
Lawyers challenge the legal foundation of the conviction
According to AP News, Trump's attorneys appeared before a New York appellate court on Thursday, November 5, arguing that the conviction should be overturned because the prosecution relied on federal election law to elevate the charges from misdemeanours to felonies.
The case originated from a $130,000 payment made by Trump's former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, to adult film performer Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election. The payment was intended to secure her silence about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump approximately a decade earlier, which the president has consistently denied.
Roughly 65% of state voters backed Initiative 194 to strip corporate privileges from entities that spend money on local campaigns. Proponents designed this novel legal mechanism to circumvent federal precedent, arguing that states hold inherent authority over the powers they grant to businesses. The resulting framework could serve as a national model or face nullification by the state legislature and federal judiciary.
Manager Thomas Tuchel has opted to reshape his midfield options ahead of critical Nations League fixtures against Croatia and Spain. The tactical shift comes amid managerial concerns regarding recurring physical setbacks, even as the omitted playmaker maintains strong domestic form. The upcoming fixtures will test England's depth as they look to improve their standing in Group C.
Mutual vetoes by the United States and Russia at the Security Council abruptly terminated the 35-year-old Minurso peacekeeping mandate. This diplomatic rupture eliminates international monitoring across the disputed territory, leaving the Algeria-backed independence movement and Rabat without an active mediation framework. Officials warn that the void severely escalates the threat of full-scale conflict and wider regional destabilization.