Judge denies Trump petition to dismiss hush-money case over immunity claims

Juan Merchan rules decidedly personal acts' of falsifying records pose no danger of intrusion on executive function

A judge on Monday ruled that Donald Trump's conviction for falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal should stand, rejecting the president-elect's argument that it should be dismissed because of the US supreme court's recent ruling on presidential immunity, a court filing showed.

Manhattan judge Juan Merchan's decision eliminates one potential off-ramp from the case ahead of Trump's return to office next month. His lawyers have raised other arguments for dismissal, however.