Donald Trump is taking his fight to the highest court in the land. The president-elect is asking the Supreme Court to stop his scheduled sentencing in the hush money case. The case stems from an attempt to cover up a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, the porn star who claims she had an affair with Trump. He denies the allegations.
Legal team files request for delay
Trump’s legal team filed a request on Wednesday, asking the Supreme Court to step in. They want to delay the sentencing set for Friday. This follows a refusal by New York courts to postpone the proceedings. Judge Juan M. Merchan, who oversaw Trump’s trial last May, convicted him on 34 felony charges related to falsifying business records.
Court refusal sparks appeal to higher court
The move to the nation’s highest court comes after New York courts denied Trump’s plea. His lawyers argue that the sentencing should be postponed while he appeals the conviction. They argue that sentencing him before the appeal is decided would be an injustice. Trump’s legal team insists it could hurt the presidency and the functioning of the federal government.
Merchan’s stance on sentencing
Merchan, the judge overseeing the case, has already stated he won’t impose jail time, probation, or fines. However, Trump’s attorneys argue that a felony conviction would still have severe consequences. They say it could cause harm to his ability to serve as president.
Top lawyers make their case
The request for a stay was filed by two prominent lawyers: John Sauer, whom Trump appointed as solicitor general, and Todd Blanche, who is expected to take a top spot at the Justice Department. They also pointed to a previous Supreme Court ruling. That ruling gave Trump, and other presidents, broad immunity from prosecution for actions taken while in office.
Presidential immunity argument
According to Trump’s legal team, this immunity should extend to the hush money case. The filing claims that the New York court lacks the authority to sentence Trump, as the case raises substantial claims of presidential immunity. They argue that the case should not proceed until the appeal is resolved, potentially by the Supreme Court itself.
Trump’s spokesman calls case politically motivated
In a statement, Trump’s spokesman Steven Cheung called the case politically motivated. He insists the charges should be dismissed. Trump’s team also filed an emergency appeal in front of New York’s highest court.
Manhattan DA to respond in court
The Manhattan district attorney’s office plans to respond, but it’s unclear how long that will take. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who handles appeals from New York, is currently reviewing the emergency motion.
The hush money controversy
Trump’s convictions stem from what prosecutors described as a scheme to silence Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. The payment was made just before voters headed to the polls. Daniels says she had an affair with Trump in 2006, but Trump insists it didn’t happen.
Immunity claims extended to evidence
Trump’s lawyers argue that evidence used in his case should have been protected under presidential immunity. This includes testimony from White House aides and social media posts made during his time in office. They point to a separate Supreme Court decision, which granted Trump immunity in another election interference case.
Judge Merchan’s ruling
However, Judge Merchan disagreed. He ruled that the evidence in question qualified as personal business, not official presidential duties. The Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity mainly focused on actions taken by the president in an official capacity.
Next steps in the legal battle
The outcome of this case is uncertain, but one thing is clear: Trump is pulling out all the stops to delay his sentencing. With the stakes so high, both his legal team and prosecutors are prepared to fight it out in court.
