Donald Trump’s Sentencing Postponed Until After the November Election
Donald Trump, the former president and current Republican nominee, has been granted a reprieve as a judge agreed to postpone his sentencing in the hush money case until after the November election. The sentencing had originally been scheduled for Sept. 18, about seven weeks before Election Day.
Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan, who is also considering a defense request to overturn the verdict on immunity grounds, delayed Trump’s sentencing until Nov. 26, several weeks after the final votes are cast in the presidential election.
Trump’s lawyers had pushed for the delay, petitioning the judge and asking a federal court to intervene, citing potential election interference if the sentencing were to take place during the campaign. They argued that delaying the sentencing would allow Trump to focus on his campaign to retake the White House.
In addition to delaying the sentencing, Trump’s lawyers are also awaiting a decision on the defense’s request to reverse his conviction and dismiss the case based on the U.S. Supreme Court’s July presidential immunity ruling. Judge Merchan will make a decision on this matter on Nov. 12.
Trump’s request to move the case to the U.S. District Court in Manhattan was rejected by a federal judge on Tuesday. Trump is now appealing this ruling in hopes of having the verdict overturned and the case dismissed on immunity grounds.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which prosecuted Trump’s case, deferred to Judge Merchan and did not take a position on the defense’s delay request.
Overall, the postponement of Trump’s sentencing provides him with more time to navigate the aftermath of his criminal conviction and continue his presidential campaign without the distraction of a looming sentencing date.
