Judge Juan Merchan on Friday approved President-elect Donald Trump’s request to file a motion to dismiss the charges in the case of New York v. Trump. The decision also removed the sentencing date for the president-elect from the schedule.
Merchan set a timeline for the proceedings, allowing Trump’s legal team until December 2 to file their motion for dismissal. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has until December 9 to submit his response.
Additionally, the judge confirmed a stay in sentencing for Trump, a move jointly requested by attorneys for both sides. The sentencing, originally scheduled for November 26, has been adjourned indefinitely.
Trump Team Celebrates Ruling
Steven Cheung, Trump’s spokesman and incoming White House communications director, hailed the decision as a significant victory for the president-elect.
“In a decisive win for President Trump, the hoax Manhattan Case is now fully stayed and sentencing is adjourned,” Cheung told Fox News Digital. “President Trump won a landslide victory as the American People have issued a mandate to return him to office and dispose of all remnants of the Witch Hunt cases.”
Cheung further stated: “All of the sham lawfare attacks against President Trump are now destroyed, and we are focused on Making America Great Again.”
Trump Attorney Calls for Dismissal
In a letter to Judge Merchan on Wednesday, Trump’s defense attorney and Deputy Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche demanded an immediate dismissal of the case.
“On November 5, 2024, the Nation’s People issued a mandate that supersedes the political motivations of DANY’s ‘People,’” Blanche wrote. “This case must be immediately dismissed.”
Blanche argued that the dismissal is required under the federal Constitution, the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, and the broader interests of justice. He emphasized that ending the case would facilitate the orderly transition of executive power following Trump’s overwhelming 2024 election victory.
The motion and responses are expected to shape the next phase of this highly scrutinized legal battle as the president-elect’s legal and political teams aim to turn the page on the Manhattan case.
