Trump Legal Developments: A Major Victory or a Strategic Delay?

EXCLUSIVE: Insider sources from former President Donald Trump’s camp have reported a significant turning point in the legal battles he faces, particularly in the case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Following Bragg’s request for a stay on the proceedings until 2029, Trump’s associates have heralded this development as a “major victory.”

The Request for Delay

On Tuesday, Bragg formally requested a stay in the case, New York v. Trump, while Trump’s legal team prepares to file a motion for complete dismissal. This request has sparked mixed reactions, with Trump officials asserting that the delay signifies a collapse in the prosecutor’s case.

A Trump official remarked to Fox News Digital, “Prosecutors are trying to save face. They know this case will soon be thrown out.” Another source suggested that the delay is merely a “fallback” for Bragg’s office, proposing that “no serious person believes this case will withstand that.”

Celebration from Trump’s Team

Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung characterized Bragg’s request as “a total and definitive victory for President Trump and the American People who elected him in a landslide.” Cheung, who was set to serve as White House communications director, added, “The Manhattan DA has conceded that this Witch Hunt cannot continue,” signaling a triumph in Trump’s ongoing legal battles.

Further emphasizing the position of Trump’s legal team, another source claimed that Bragg’s action “represents a total failure of the prosecution.” They suggested that the case is “in shambles” and may not return in five years, continuing to frame the legal struggles as a victory for Trump.

The Legal Background

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments classified as hush money. This investigation was initially initiated by former Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance and has continued under Bragg’s guidance.

Following a six-week trial, the jury found Trump guilty on all counts, prompting Judge Juan Merchan to grant a stay on all related deadlines just as Trump is due to take office as the 47th president of the United States. This included a stay on a sentencing date set for November 26.

Appeals and Arguments

Trump’s legal team has moved to have the guilty verdict overturned entirely, invoking a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that provides certain immunities to former presidents concerning their official acts.

Defense attorney Todd Blanche has argued that various testimonies presented during the trial, including those from former White House communications director Hope Hicks and others, should have been excluded because they pertained to “official acts.” The legal team contends that this inclusion violates the immunity doctrine established in previous Supreme Court cases.

Blanche’s motion articulates, “The Presidential immunity doctrine recognized in Trump pertains to all ‘criminal proceedings,’ including grand jury proceedings when a prosecutor ‘seeks to charge’ a former President using evidence of official acts.” He argued that Bragg had indeed contravened this doctrine by relying on such evidence during the case’s preliminary stages.

Future Legal Implications

The implications of the Supreme Court’s recent 6-3 ruling regarding presidential immunity emanated from charges in a separate federal case against Trump, which relates to events surrounding January 6, 2021. Trump has maintained a not-guilty status in that case as well.

With Smith winding down his cases against Trump following the election, it remains unclear how Merchan will rule on the presidential immunity argument. Prosecutors are anticipating this issue to be central in the forthcoming dismissal motion filed by Trump’s defense team.

Conclusion: A Complex Legal Battle Ahead

As the legal landscape continues to evolve, the request for a prolonged stay and subsequent arguments from Trump’s team imply a tumultuous road ahead. Bragg and his office face mounting pressure as they confront the implications of their decision, while Trump’s team capitalizes on every judicial delay as a sign of victory. Whether this case will indeed fall apart remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the interplay between legal proceedings and political narratives will significantly shape the discourse leading into Trump’s term as President.