On Saturday, September 7, 2024, The Hill reported that Alina Habba, an attorney for former President Donald Trump, criticized the New York hush money case against him, labeling it “a joke.” Habba’s remarks came during an appearance on Fox News with Sean Hannity, following a decision by Judge Juan Merchan to delay Trump’s sentencing until November 26, a move that Habba described as advantageous for the GOP nominee.
Habba expressed her discontent with the handling of the case, stating that it should be “admonished” and called for the judge to be held accountable for not recusing himself or dismissing the case entirely. She argued that the ongoing legal proceedings are a waste of taxpayer resources and detrimental to public perception, particularly in a city grappling with crime issues.
The sentencing was originally scheduled for September 18, but the delay was granted after Trump indicated he would appeal if the judge did not dismiss the case, especially in light of a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. This ruling generally protects former presidents from criminal prosecution for actions taken while in office. Judge Merchan’s decision aims to prevent the upcoming presidential election from being influenced by the court proceedings.
Habba articulated her belief that the entire case is fundamentally flawed due to the Supreme Court’s ruling. While she acknowledged the judge’s delay as a positive step to avoid appearing to interfere with the election, she insisted that the case should ultimately be dismissed.
Trump was found guilty by a New York jury on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to an adult film star during the 2016 election campaign. This verdict marked him as the first sitting or former president to be convicted in a criminal trial. Trump’s legal team contends that the jury improperly relied on social media evidence from his presidency, which they argue should have been protected under the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Source: The Hill
