A New York appeals court judge has swiftly rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s request to postpone his Friday sentencing in the hush money case. The decision was made by Associate Justice Ellen Gesmer following a brief hearing on the matter Tuesday afternoon.
Trump had requested to stay the proceedings in the hush money case, including his sentencing scheduled for Friday, while he appeals his conviction. This request came after Judge Juan Merchan, the trial judge, had denied Trump’s demand to stop the sentencing.
During the hearing, Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche argued to the New York Appellate Division, First Department, that the sentencing should be halted, citing the Supreme Court’s July decision on presidential immunity as offering Trump constitutional protection. Blanche acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the situation, stating that there has never been a case like this before.
However, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office Chief of Appeals Steven Wu countered by pointing out that Trump’s lawyers had not presented any argument that a one-hour sentencing hearing would disrupt Trump’s responsibilities as president-elect. Wu emphasized that the sentencing would need to take place at some point.
Trump is appealing his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, contending that it should be overturned due to the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling and his current status as president-elect. Despite Merchan rejecting both arguments and scheduling the sentencing for Friday, he indicated that he would not impose any punishment on Trump.
