A judge has agreed to postpone Donald Trump’s sentencing in his hush money case until after the November election, providing him with a reprieve as he manages the aftermath of his criminal conviction and his ongoing presidential campaign. Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan has decided to delay Trump’s sentencing until Nov. 26, a few weeks after the presidential election. The sentencing was initially set for Sept. 18, close to Election Day.
Judge Merchan stated that the postponement is to prevent any perception, however unwarranted, that the proceeding could be influenced by or aims to influence the upcoming presidential election in which Trump is a candidate. He emphasized the court's commitment to fairness, impartiality, and non-partisanship.
Trump's legal team advocated for the delay on various grounds, arguing that penalizing him during his campaign could constitute election interference. They also contended that postponing the sentencing would allow Trump time to consider his next steps following the court's ruling on the defense's request to overturn his conviction based on the U.S. Supreme Court's July presidential immunity decision.
Merchan has deferred a decision on the immunity request until Nov. 12. Trump is appealing a federal court's rejection of his bid to transfer the case from state court to federal court.
The Manhattan district attorney's office, which prosecuted the case, did not take a stance on the delay request. Trump was convicted in May on 34 counts related to concealing a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. The payment was portrayed as an attempt to suppress damaging information about Trump during his campaign.
Trump has consistently denied the allegations, asserting that the reimbursements were for legitimate legal services. He has characterized the case as a politically motivated attack on his current campaign. Democrats have highlighted his conviction in their campaign messaging.
Falsifying business records, the charge Trump was convicted on, carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison. Trump, the first ex-president to be convicted of a crime, has vowed to appeal the verdict once he is sentenced.
