Former President Trump asked to postpone his pending New York trial on charges of falsifying business records to pay hush money to alleged mistresses by citing to his presidential immunity claim at the Supreme Court. Trump says he is shielded from some of the allegations because he was president at the time some of his actions took place. Legal experts say it would be difficult for Trump to establish that paying hush money to women was part of his official duties as president, to qualify for immunity, reports USA Today. Trump maintains that he is immune from criminal prosecution in his two federal cases, involving the 2020 election results and classified documents. Federal judges have rejected immunity claims; the Supreme Court hears arguments April 25.
The New York trial is scheduled for March 25. Trump contends because the issue is unique – no former president has faced criminal charges before – that Judge Juan Merchan should postpone his case at least until the Supreme Court rules, to avoid having to hold the trial twice. Legal experts said Trump already dropped his argument the New York case involves official acts when he decided not to appeal a rejection of moving his case from state to federal court. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein ruled that Trump’s alleged conduct “does not reflect in any way the color of the President’s official duties.” "Hush money paid to an adult film star is not related to a President's official acts," Hellerstein said. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying New York business records.