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'Skeptical': CNN's Kaitlan Collins presses Trump attorney on tossing hush money case



Donald Trump's defense is going on offense to zap his legal troubles now that the Supreme Court ruled the president possesses absolute immunity for core constitutional powers.

The first case in Trump's sights is his 34-count felony conviction for falsifying business records last month in his New York City hush money trial.

"I think it just adds to the vast number of irregularities and unconstitutional aspects of that trial that took place in New York," said Will Scharf, one of the former president's defense attorneys, appearing on CNN's "The Source" with Kaitlin Collins. "We're obviously looking forward to vigorously challenging that trial verdict on numerous grounds.

"This is just another ground that I think adds to the clamor in terms of overturning that verdict."

Collins wasn't convinced.

"I'm a little skeptical," she said. "But we'll see what the judge decides here."

The court ruled 6-3, putting to rest Trump's absolute immunity claim from all prosecution when it comes to core constitutional powers, but left open vulnerability when it comes to unofficial acts.

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Scharf, a Republican candidate for Missouri attorney general, laid out some of the basis for not only getting the verdict appealed, but believes the high court's decision could help the 45th president secure a new trial.

He pointed to Trump's Twitter (now X) account and how previous tweets were rinsed as evidence thanks to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's prosecution team during the seven-week trial in Lower Manhattan's criminal court.

"President Trump's Twitter account has been held by numerous courts to be during his time as presidency, to be an official communications instrumentality of the White House — so those sorts of things would be official acts under the Supreme Court's ruling today. And therefore, they were not admissible as evidenced in that New York trial."

He also pointed to various responses and comments that were made or delivered out of the front door of the White House Communications "channels."

"Those would be things that we believe based on the Supreme Court's opinion today fall neatly within the outer perimeter of a president's official responsibilities and duties," he said.

Asked by Collins if the tweets and communications warrant a "new trial" in New York — Scharf told her, "it certainly should."

And as for the former president's federal election subversion case where he is charged along with others of scheming to overturn the 2020 election to clench onto the levers of presidential power Scharf hoped the ruling would also kick in.

"This case is going to be removed, handed back to the district court," he said. "The district court is going to have to determine which of the acts underlying the indictment are immune and which are not immune. And then we'll proceed from there."

Watch the clip below or at this link.

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