In a filing Thursday evening, attorneys for Donald Trump filed a motion in federal court begging it for the second time to take over the Manhattan criminal conviction appeal, hoping to find a friendlier forum to overturn the 34-count conviction for financial crimes, the Washington Post reports.
Citing the High Court’s decision that gave Oval Office holders immunity for official acts, the lawyers wrote, “The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that these types of violations threaten the structure of the federal government and the ability of future Presidents to carry out their vital duties in the way the Framers intended.”
The move is done in desperation: Judge Juan Merchan is scheduled to rule on Trump’s attempt to dismiss the case based on presidential immunity on September 16th. Two days later–assuming Merchan does not throw out the case–Trump is scheduled to be sentenced.