The U.S. Department of Justice has taken a surprising and unprecedented action by asking a New York appeals court to throw out Donald Trump’s criminal conviction. This move is being described as “extraordinary” because it is extremely rare for the Justice Department to step in on behalf of a sitting president in a case involving his personal criminal charges. Normally, the Department of Justice stays out of matters like this, especially when they relate to state-level convictions. But in this situation, the department’s lawyers are actively siding with Trump as he tries to erase his criminal record and clear his name.
According to a report from Bloomberg, the Justice Department’s attorneys filed what is known as a “friend-of-the-court brief.” This type of document is usually filed by people or groups who are not directly involved in a case but want to offer their legal opinion to help guide the court’s decision. In the brief, the Justice Department argues that Trump’s conviction in the Manhattan hush-money case last year was not handled properly. They claim that the trial court made a serious legal error by allowing evidence related to Trump’s official presidential duties to be shown to the jury.
The lawyers referred to a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that gave U.S. presidents broad immunity from criminal charges for things they did while performing their official duties. They argue that because of that ruling, parts of Trump’s trial were unconstitutional. In their words, the fact that the jury was allowed to hear about official presidential actions “requires reversal,” meaning they believe the entire conviction should be overturned.
Trump’s case goes back to 2024, when he was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors said he did this to hide hush-money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the weeks leading up to the 2016 election. They claimed that the payments were part of a scheme to influence the election by covering up information that could have hurt his campaign. Trump and his team have always denied this, saying the payments were personal and had nothing to do with the election.
The conviction made Trump the first and only U.S. president in history to be found guilty of a felony. Since then, his lawyers have been working nonstop to challenge the verdict in every possible way. They have filed appeals in both state and federal courts, arguing that the case was politically motivated and that the prosecution overstepped its authority.
Now, with the Department of Justice stepping in, Trump’s efforts to overturn his conviction have gained new momentum. The move suggests that the federal government believes his trial may have violated constitutional principles that protect sitting or former presidents. However, the Justice Department’s decision has also drawn criticism. Legal experts and political commentators say it raises serious questions about fairness, independence, and whether the department is giving Trump special treatment because of his position.
Prosecutors who handled Trump’s original case maintain that his actions were not part of his presidential duties and therefore do not fall under presidential immunity. They argue that the payments to Daniels were a private matter meant to protect his image and his campaign, not an official act of the presidency. The upcoming appeals court hearing will now have to decide which argument holds more weight — the Justice Department’s claim that Trump’s trial was unconstitutional, or the prosecutors’ position that he was rightly convicted for personal misconduct.
This latest twist adds yet another layer to the ongoing legal and political drama surrounding Donald Trump. It highlights how deeply intertwined the legal system and politics have become when it comes to cases involving a former and now sitting president. The outcome of this appeal could have major consequences not only for Trump’s political future but also for how future presidents are treated under the law.
