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On Friday, the criminal case against Donald Trump over alleged hush money payments took an unexpected turn when the judge opted to delay sentencing indefinitely. Trump’s team lauded the decision as a “major legal win,” further strengthening his position as he prepares for his reentry into the White House.
Trump, whose sentencing was originally scheduled for November 26, made a concerted effort to prevent the legal process from moving forward before he formally assumes office in January. He sought to delay the proceedings, attempting to avoid a judgment until after he succeeds Joe Biden in the presidential seat.
“The joint application for a stay of sentencing is granted to the extent that the November 26, 2024 date is adjourned,” Judge Juan Merchan said in an order in New York.
To support their request for a delay, Trump’s legal team invoked a significant ruling from the Supreme Court in July, which established that presidents enjoy sweeping immunity from legal challenges related to their official duties while in office.
They contended that, based on this precedent, the legal process should be put on hold until Trump’s term concludes, as the immunity principle shields him from prosecution for actions taken in his capacity as president.
“In a decisive win for President Trump, the hoax Manhattan Case is now fully stayed and sentencing is adjourned,” Trump’s communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement.
“President Trump won a landslide victory as the American People have issued a mandate to return him to office and dispose of all remnants of the Witch Hunt cases.”
Trump’s conviction in May on 34 felony counts followed a jury’s determination that he had intentionally falsified business records to hide an alleged sexual encounter with a porn star, a clear attempt to suppress sensitive information that could have damaged his 2016 election prospects. The jury found that these actions were part of a broader effort to maintain the integrity of his campaign’s image.
The prosecution argued that Trump’s actions to hide the alleged affair were directly tied to his objective of securing the presidency. They suggested that the cover-up was a strategic maneuver aimed at shielding his 2016 campaign from any negative press that might have harmed his chances of winning the White House in his first attempt.
Ahead of the November election, Trump’s attorneys attempted to have the case dismissed, arguing that a recent decision by the Supreme Court provided him with legal protection from prosecution. However, prosecutors strongly refuted this claim, maintaining that the charges were valid and that the case should not be discarded or delayed.
On Friday, Merchan granted Trump leave to seek to have the conviction thrown out, likely meaning several further hearings that could be delayed once Trump is sworn in.
New York state prosecutors previously acknowledged in correspondence with the court the “unprecedented circumstances,” and called for the competing interests of the jury’s verdict and Trump’s election to be balanced.
Read also: Trump’s Return: US, Russia Lock Horns Over Ukraine
The Republican president-elect has repeatedly derided the hush money case as a witch hunt.
Beyond the hush money scandal, Trump is also facing two ongoing federal cases. The first pertains to his efforts to disrupt the legitimate results of the 2020 election, while the second involves the improper handling of classified documents after his tenure as president came to an end.
In relation to the election interference case, Special Counsel Jack Smith has moved to vacate the established deadlines, effectively pausing the case indefinitely. Despite the delay, Smith has not sought to formally dismiss the charges, consistent with the Justice Department’s long-standing policy of not pursuing charges against sitting U.S. presidents.
A federal judge, selected by Trump, had already ruled to dismiss the documents case. Nevertheless, Special Counsel Smith has sought to challenge this decision on appeal. If Trump retains the presidency, he could exercise his authority to intervene and put an end to these legal proceedings.
