In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump has decided to appeal his recent conviction on 34 felony counts in New York. Trump's legal team, led by attorney Will Scharf, announced on Sunday that they would vigorously defend the former president's rights in the appellate courts, potentially taking the appeal all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, if necessary.

The conviction stemmed from allegations that Trump orchestrated a cover-up of a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election. As a result, the Probation Department will conduct a pre-sentencing investigation, including an interview with Trump, to provide a sentencing recommendation for Judge Juan Merchan.

Scharf confirmed that Trump will fully cooperate with the pre-sentence investigation while continuing to challenge the verdict. He expressed confidence in the appeal, citing numerous reversible errors in the case. Trump and his legal team have consistently criticized the trial as a "sham" and have accused Judge Merchan of bias, pointing to a small political donation he made to President Joe Biden in 2020.

The contentious relationship between Trump and Merchan reached a point where the judge imposed a gag order on Trump, preventing him from making comments about the judge's family, witnesses, jurors, or anyone involved in the trial. However, since the conviction, Trump has intensified his attacks on Merchan, even going as far as referring to him as a "devil."

Scharf defended Trump's actions, stating that the former president had a right to express his views and criticize the judge. He also cited Merchan's decision on permissible cross-examination questions as a reason for Trump not testifying in his own defense. Scharf believed that taking the stand would have been dangerous given the judge's wide-ranging boundaries.

Aside from the historical significance of being the first conviction of a former president on a felony charge, this case holds the potential to impact future political dynamics. Trump, who has enjoyed widespread name recognition thus far, has so far been seen as leading in a hypothetical race against President Biden. Some Democrats speculate that the conviction could influence undecided voters, potentially altering the results in swing states.

On the other hand, Republicans argue that the conviction will only galvanize Trump's base, further solidifying support for the former president. However, Governor Wes Moore, a Biden surrogate, dismissed this claim, emphasizing the importance of having a president like Biden who focuses on the future and freedoms of the American people.

The ongoing debate among Democrats regarding the significance of Trump's conviction was also addressed. Moore rejected the argument that Trump's status as a convicted felon would resonate with communities of color, calling it deeply problematic and offensive. He stressed the importance of having a leader, like Biden, who prioritizes the future and connects with all communities.

As the appeals process unfolds, the nation will be watching closely to see how the legal battle surrounding Donald Trump's conviction on 34 felony counts unfolds. The outcome of the appeal could have far-reaching implications for the former president and the political landscape as a whole.