Trump's lawyers argue for his criminal conviction in "hush money" case to be overturned

CBS News · Graham Kates · 2026-11-05 11:00 UTC

President Trump was convicted in 2024 of 34 felonies tied to a 2016 "hush money" payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

President Trump's lawyers on Thursday urged a New York appellate court to throw out his conviction on 34 felonies tied to a 2016 "hush money" payment to an adult film star.

They argued that the jury was given flawed instructions, allowing them to consider violations of federal election law as part of their determination in the case, calling it an "obvious ground for reversal." Mr. Trump has long argued that the federal law, known as FECA, preempts state prosecution.

"All of the payments that are issued in this case, whether it be the payments to [adult film star Stormy Daniels], other payments to two other folks, those were payments that were deemed to be illegal contributions or expenditures under FECA," said Mr. Trump's attorney, Robert Giuffra.

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