Categories: Politics

Trump wins reprieve in ‘Hush Money’ trial: Judge postpones sentencing after the election

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 30: Former U.S. President Donald Trump appears in court for his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. Judge Juan Merchan gave the jury instructions, and deliberations are entering their second day. The former president faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. (Photo by Steven Hirsch-Pool/Getty Images)

Donald Trump’s sentencing in his Manhattan hush money criminal case has been delayed until after the November election.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan decided to move the sentencing date from September 18 to November 26, meaning voters will not know Trump’s fate by Election Day.

The former president was found guilty in May 2024 of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, intended to influence the 2016 presidential election.

Though Trump, 78, faces up to four years in prison, legal experts suggest he is more likely to receive probation or community service.

Furthermore, any sentence may be paused during his appeals process.

Also, if elected on November 5th it is expected that the Supreme Court would possibly intervene to spare an elected and later sitting President to be subject to criminal punishment during his time in office, according to legal experts.

Herbert Bauernebel

Herbert Bauernebel has been reporting from New York since 1999 and currently works for Bild.de, OE24 TV, and US Live. He also runs the news portal AmerikaReport.de. Bauernebel has covered nearly all major US events of the past quarter-century, including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Barack Obama’s election, Donald Trump’s surprise victory, the pandemic, last year’s election showdown, as well as natural disasters such as hurricanes and oil spills. He has also reported firsthand on international events, including the Asian tsunami, the Haiti earthquake, and the Fukushima disaster. He lives in Brooklyn with his family and holds degrees in communication and political science from the University of Vienna. Bauernebel is the author of a book about his experiences on 9/11, And the Air Was Full of Ash: 9/11 – The Day That Changed My Life.