A judge in Manhattan has granted a request to delay the sentencing of Donald Trump in his hush money case until after the upcoming November election. The judge, Juan M. Merchan, also postponed a decision on a defense request to overturn the verdict based on immunity grounds until November 12. The original sentencing date of September 18, which is close to Election Day, has now been moved to November 26 to avoid any appearance of affecting the election process. The judge emphasized the court’s commitment to fairness and impartiality in his decision.
Trump’s legal team had petitioned for the delay on multiple fronts, arguing that punishing him during his campaign for the presidency would be considered as election interference. They also stated that postponing the sentencing would allow Trump time to consider his next steps after the immunity ruling. Trump was convicted in May on multiple counts related to concealing a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The case was prosecuted by the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
While Trump continues to maintain his innocence and claims the case is politically motivated, the judge’s decision to postpone the sentencing provides him with more time to navigate the legal process. The federal judge had previously rejected a request to transfer the case to a federal court from Merchan’s state court. The upcoming election on November 5 adds a layer of complexity to the legal proceedings, with some states allowing early voting just before or after the original sentencing date.
Falsifying business records, the charge on which Trump was convicted, carries a potential sentence of up to four years in prison. Trump, the first ex-president to be convicted of a crime, plans to appeal the verdict but cannot do so until after sentencing. His legal team argued that the short timeframe between the immunity ruling and the original sentencing date did not provide adequate time to pursue appellate options in case the ruling went against Trump.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity has influenced the arguments put forth by Trump’s lawyers, who believe that evidence presented in the hush money case should not have included details of Trump’s reactions to media coverage at the time. The delayed sentencing now gives Trump more time to navigate the legal process as he continues his campaign for the presidency.
