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By MICHAEL R. SISAK and JENNIFER PELTZ NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg National Politics | Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump’s suite at football game The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won’t include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn’t sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump” who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.Stocks with best odds of risk-adjusted returns deserve attention: Goldman Sachs

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OpenAI's legal battle with Elon Musk reveals internal turmoil over avoiding AI 'dictatorship'Mysterious googly eyes go viral after appearing on public art in OregonSeven new big-name brands joined the popular shopping complex in 2024, including the likes of Nike, Primark, Ninja Warrior, and PureGym. Major construction work has been happening across the park throughout the year, not only for new stores in 2024 but for upcoming brands soon to arrive in the new year. Catherine Furlong, centre director at Teesside Park, told The Northern Echo this week: “What a year 2024 has been for us”, “Seven new brands have joined the Teesside Park family as well as the new golf concept in Hollywood Bowl. “We have delivered some amazing community initiatives including our Bright Lights and Young Readers programmes which have supported more than 200 local young people with both employment and education. “There’s been so much positive feedback from our visitors and we’re super excited about lots more to come next year!” So as the year comes to a close, we’ve rounded up all the changes at Teesside Park this year, and what shoppers can expect in 2025. Sportswear giant Nike was the first to open its new store at Teesside Park in 2024, taking over the former New Look in February. Nike at Teesside Park (Image: Teesside Park) Nike Unite is a newer concept rolled out by the chain, which aims to better represent the community its branch is located in. Stocking a variety of sportswear for men, women and children, the 11,855 sq ft location offers “everyday essentials” alongside select seasonal items. Hollywood Bowl relaunched in March this year following a huge £2 million makeover. Hollywood Bowl at Teesside Park The site is now home to a 12-hole minigolf course, 31 bowling lanes, a new bar and a refreshed amusement area, after taking over the former Imperial City restaurant next door. It also added a five-lane VIP section for those who wanted to bowl in luxury. Hundreds of shoppers flocked to Teesside Park in May after Primark opened its doors for the first time inside the former Mothercare unit. Primark at Teesside Park (Image: Sarah Caldecott) 700 customers queued for the opening, which created 180 new jobs for the region and followed months of anticipation for the new site. Set across two floors and measuring 37,100 sq ft, the store stocks clothing, kidswear, beauty, lifestyle and home. Ninja Warrior opened its adventure park at Teesside Park in July, boasting a replica obstacle course of the hit ITV show. Ninja Warrior (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) The adventure park offers something for all ages - with dozens of obstacles and inflatables to traverse, including the warped wall. Kids are also able to take on one Ninja Warrior UK’s largest inflatables, featuring an obstacle course, slides, and battle zone. Beauty brand Rituals launched at the shopping complex in late October, in part of the former H&M, which has been closed since June 2022. Rituals before opening (Image: CONTRIBUTOR) The space was initially set to be taken over by Frasers Group’s Tessuti chain - but this never came to fruition and the unit was divided into three. The store - which sells a range of products for the “body, mind, and soul” - came months after the brand appeared on park plans in May. Just one day after the opening of Rituals, British fashion and lifestyle chain White Stuff opened up nextdoor, also in part of the former H&M. White Stuff (Image: UGC) The launch date saw 20% off almost everything in store, and even some glasses of prosecco - with the first 50 people inside gifted with a Teesside tote bag. PureGym opened its first Teesside site at the complex on November 1, following a major renovation of the former Millennium nightclub. PureGym at Teesside Park (Image: CONTRIBUTOR) The site was gutted by construction crews before being transformed - with the site now featuring hundreds of pieces of state-of-the-art equipment, a functional zone, free weights area, fixed resistance, cardio equipment, and a fitness studio and a cycle studio. Fashion retailer Mango opened its new store in a section of the former H&M in December, months after the Spanish retailer first lodged plans for signs at the site. Inside Mango (Image: TEESSIDE PARK) The store has been decked out with warm tones, neutral colours, and a range of materials including ceramic, tuff, wood, marble, sparto grass, and leather items. Works have been continuing on a huge new unit at Teesside Park for several months that will soon become Sports Direct’s new home at the complex. The new Sports Direct (Image: CONTRIBUTOR) Frasers Group - which owns the sporting chain - announced last year that the sportswear firm would be expanding into a new 40,000sq ft space, featuring a GAME and Evans Cycles. The upcoming store is made up of the former Laura Ashley, Argos, USC, and MenKind stores, which have been merged to create an amalgamated unit. The store is set to open in spring 2025 - with an exact date not known. Meanwhile, designer chain Flannels, which also falls under the Frasers Group umbrella, is set to take over the current Sports Direct store. The current Sports Direct (Image: GOOGLE) The firm - which sells designer brands such as Stone Island, Boss, Gucci, Vivienne Westwood, and Polo Ralph Lauren - will soon be transforming the 20,000-square-foot unit. The Northern Echo understands that Flannels will also open in late spring - but it is not known when the current Sports Direct will close its doors. B&M (Image: Michael Robinson) Discount retailer B&M opened its new 34,686 sqft store in November 2022, taking over the former Toys R Us store. When the new store was announced, the chain confirmed a garden centre would soon open also, with signs on the front saying it would be launching in spring or summer 2024. However, earlier this year, B&M confirmed it was planning to open the new garden centre in March 2025. It is not known why the addition has been delayed.

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