BREAKING NEWS: CNN EXCLUSIVE – Trump Legal Team Files Emergency Motion to Halt Sentencing in New York Hush Money Case
WHO: Former President Donald Trump and his legal team; Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg; New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan.
WHAT: Trump’s attorneys have filed an emergency motion seeking to immediately halt the scheduled sentencing hearing in the criminal hush money case, citing newly discovered evidence and jurisdictional challenges. The motion argues that the presiding judge’s impartiality has been compromised and that the case should be dismissed.
WHERE: The motion was submitted to the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, in Manhattan.
WHEN: The filing was made public by CNN sources late Wednesday evening, just 48 hours before the sentencing was set to occur on Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. ET.
WHY: The defense claims that the prosecution improperly withheld exculpatory material and that the verdict should be overturned. Additionally, the legal team asserts that federal law preempts state prosecution of a former president for official acts, a argument previously rejected by lower courts.
HOW: CNN has obtained exclusive documents showing that the emergency motion includes affidavits from two former federal prosecutors and a sealed exhibit that the defense says proves witness tampering by a key prosecution witness. The appellate court has yet to rule on the request for a stay.
This is a developing story. CNN will provide live updates as the court responds.