The Harris campaign is allegedly pushing to change the terms of the upcoming ABC debate, while Trump's hush money case faces a significant setback and countersuit allegations of political bias.
Former President Donald Trump's campaign team has accused the Harris administration of attempting to "escape" a scheduled ABC debate by altering its terms. Jason Miller, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, raised concerns about the Harris team's motives and questioned the fairness of the negotiation process.
Meanwhile, a federal judge has rejected Trump's request to move his hush money criminal case from state to federal court. U.S. District Court Judge Alvin Hellerstein cited a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity as the basis for his denial.
Exclusive: Harris Team Seeks 'Escape Hatch' from ABC Debate, Trump's Legal Battle Heats Up
Hellerstein maintained that private payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels are unrelated to Trump's official duties, despite arguments presented by the Trump legal team. He had previously stated that Trump's reimbursement to Michael Cohen for hush money payments was not an official act.
Trump's lawyers invoked the Supreme Court's immunity decision to argue that evidence related to official acts should not be admitted in the hush money case. However, Hellerstein dismissed this contention, asserting that the court's ruling does not affect his previous determination that the payments were private and outside the scope of executive authority.
Exclusive: Harris Team Seeks 'Escape Hatch' from ABC Debate, Trump's Legal Battle Heats Up
In a subsequent statement, Trump's campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, denounced the proceedings as a "political witch hunt" and called for its dismissal. Additionally, Trump has alleged bias against him by the presiding judge, Juan Merchan, citing his daughter's support for Democratic candidates.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has proposed postponing Trump's sentencing until Merchan has ruled on the motion to vacate the conviction based on presidential immunity and the request to delay sentencing. However, Merchan is expected to announce his decision on the motion on September 16.
Exclusive: Harris Team Seeks 'Escape Hatch' from ABC Debate, Trump's Legal Battle Heats Up
Trump's legal team has also filed a countersuit against Merchan, challenging his impartiality. They have requested that the case be moved to federal court, arguing that the state court lacks jurisdiction.
Amidst the legal turmoil, the Harris campaign has been facing scrutiny for its alleged attempts to alter the terms of the ABC debate. The specific changes being sought remain unclear, but Miller has expressed concerns about the process being conducted in a "backroom" manner.
Exclusive: Harris Team Seeks 'Escape Hatch' from ABC Debate, Trump's Legal Battle Heats Up
The Harris campaign has not publicly commented on the debate negotiations but has previously stated its commitment to engaging in respectful and substantive discussions with opposing candidates. The outcome of these discussions will likely determine the shape of the upcoming ABC debate.
