US President Donald Trump’s lawyers will ask a New York appeals court on Thursday to overturn his 2024 criminal conviction in the Stormy Daniels hush money case.
Trump was found guilty in May 2024 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records linked to a $130,000 payment made to Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.
According to The Guardian, prosecutors argued that Trump concealed payments intended to prevent Daniels from publicly discussing an alleged sexual encounter with him.
Trump has denied teh encounter and any wrongdoing.
His former lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels before the election and was later reimbursed by Trump’s company, which recorded the payments as legal expenses.
Prosecutors alleged Trump “orchestrated a conspiracy” to hide damaging information from voters.
However, Trump’s lawyers argue there is only “weak” evidence that he knew about Cohen’s actions.
In January 2025, Trump received an unconditional discharge, meaning he faced no prison sentence, fine or other punishment despite the conviction.
The president is also seeking to move the case to federal court and have it dismissed under presidential immunity protections.
A federal judge rejected that request in August, with another appeal hearing scheduled for November 16.
