President Donald Trump has initiated an appeal against his 2024 criminal conviction in New York, enlisting the services of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, a prominent Manhattan law firm. The appeal challenges the conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump’s legal team, led by Sullivan & Cromwell’s co-chair Robert J. Giuffra Jr., filed the notice of appeal on January 29, 2025. Giuffra emphasized the broader implications of the case, stating, “This case impacts the rule of law, New York’s global business reputation, and the presidency itself.” The appeal contends that the prosecution misapplied state business records laws to target Trump, setting a “dangerous precedent” for politically motivated charges against public officials.
The legal team comprises several former Supreme Court clerks, including James McDonald, Morgan Ratner, John Wall, and Matthew Schwartz. This new representation replaces Trump’s previous trial attorneys, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who have since assumed positions within the Justice Department.
The conviction stems from allegations that Trump orchestrated payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to suppress her claims of an affair, thereby influencing the 2016 election. The prosecution argued that these payments were improperly recorded as legal fees in the Trump Organization’s records. Despite the conviction, Trump was sentenced to an unconditional discharge on January 10, 2025, avoiding jail time or fines.
In addition to the state appeal, Trump’s legal team is seeking to transfer the case to federal court, arguing that federal law should preempt state charges and asserting that there was no intent to commit a crime. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, which prosecuted the case, has yet to respond to the appeal.
This appeal marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battles surrounding President Trump, with potential ramifications for the intersection of state and federal jurisdiction in cases involving high-profile public officials.