Judge allows Trump to seek dismissal of DA Bragg's hush money case

Trump was convicted earlier this year on 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with a 2016 payment his then-attorney, Michael Cohen, made to Stormy Daniels.

By Ben Whedon

Published: November 22, 2024 10:54am

Updated: November 22, 2024 11:49am

In a major legal win for President-elect Donald Trump, a New York judge on Friday permitted him to seek the dismissal of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's hush money case.

Trump was convicted earlier this year on 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with a 2016 payment his then-attorney, Michael Cohen, made to Stormy Daniels. Trump has maintained his innocence and challenged the decision.

U.S. District Judge Juan Merchan on Friday set a deadline of Dec. 2 for Trump to file a motion to dismiss.

Merchan ruling

Juan Merchan

He previously canceled a planned late November sentencing for Trump, which has not been rescheduled. Bragg's office has expressed an openness to delaying the sentencing until after Trump leaves office, but opposes dismissal of the case.