Appeals Courts Reject 2 Trump Challenges in NY Case

Former President Donald Trump encountered roadblocks on Sept. 12 in his attempts to challenge rulings related to his criminal case in New York.

Hours later, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit denied Trump’s request for emergency relief in his attempt to relocate the case to federal court.

Federal district Judge Alvin Hellerstein had denied that request and Trump followed by asking the Second Circuit to halt Hellerstein’s denial.

Trump has argued that the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. United States, which held that presidents enjoy certain levels of immunity from criminal prosecution, and Merchan’s conduct raised federal questions that should be addressed in federal court.

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He has also derided Merchan’s gag order as an unconstitutional infringement on his right to free speech.

Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign, said the former president will “continue to fight against the unconstitutional Witch Hunts and Gag Orders.”

The orders were issued two days after Trump’s debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, during which he alleged that the justice system had been weaponized against him.

Special counsel Jack Smith has appealed against that decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, raising the possibility that the case could restart.

Also on Sept. 12, Attorney General Merrick Garland appeared to rebuff Trump in a speech defending his employees and describing the DOJ as impartial.

The Second Circuit has yet to rule on Trump’s request to move Merchan’s case to federal court.

He said he wouldn’t rule on Trump’s presidential immunity claims until after the election.

In a letter on Sept. 9, Trump’s attorneys urged the Second Circuit to delay proceedings.

“For example, President Trump’s ability to seek appellate review of the district court’s ruling would be irreparably harmed, in the absence of a stay, because Justice Merchant could move forward with sentencing and a ‘judgment of conviction’ … before this appeal is resolved.”

A judgment of conviction refers to the court formally declaring Trump guilty.

In May, a jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying documents.

Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis’s case against Trump faced additional setbacks on Sept. 12 as Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee dismissed several charges in the indictment brought by Willis.

That case, which focuses on Trump’s reactions to the 2020 presidential election, is set to go before the state’s court of appeals in December with consideration of whether Willis should be disqualified from the prosecution.

A similar, federal-level case is trudging along in Washington, where D.C. Judge Tanya Chutkan laid out a new schedule for continuing the pre-trial process, which was delayed for months as the Supreme Court weighed Trump’s immunity appeal.

Reuters contributed to this report.