The proceedings involving former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial have experienced a significant delay, as the sentencing, originally slated for next week, has been postponed indefinitely by Judge Juan Merchan.
Judge Merchan has chosen to adjourn Trump’s sentencing, pending a review of relevant filings regarding presidential immunity. This decision aligns with Trump’s request to file a motion to dismiss the case, with his legal team required to submit documents by December 2. The prosecution is given a week to counter these submissions. Trump’s legal team initially sought an extension until December 20 to file their paperwork.
Meanwhile, the judge has not set a new date for sentencing or provided additional details on the postponement. Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump, described Merchan’s decision as a significant win for the president-elect. The former president, now facing a turnaround in his legal and political circumstances following his recent election victory, has observed a winding down of his two federal cases, with the Georgia state case already dormant. The New York case, which appeared to be reaching a conclusion, now stands poised without a set sentence.
The district attorney’s office suggested that Trump is unlikely to be sentenced until after his upcoming presidential term. Despite Alvin Bragg, the district attorney, insisting that Trump’s felony conviction should remain intact, sources indicate a willingness to consider a four-year suspension of the case. Trump’s lawyers argue that his conviction should be vacated due to the presidential immunity decision and his return to the presidency.
The charges against Trump include 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments his former attorney, Michael Cohen, made to adult-film star Stormy Daniels. This payment, amounting to $130,000, was intended to prevent Daniels from disclosing an alleged affair with Trump ahead of the 2016 election. Despite his conviction in May, Trump denies having had the affair. His sentencing has already been rescheduled twice following the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling, which prompted his legal team to file for dismissal of the conviction. Strategies such as attempting to move the case to federal court also contributed to delays, leading Judge Merchan to defer the sentencing and immunity ruling until after the November election.
The indefinite postponement of Donald Trump’s sentencing in the hush money trial marks another delay in the legal proceedings against him. As the interplay of legal strategies continues, the outcome of this high-profile case remains uncertain, reflective of the complexities inherent in cases involving prominent political figures.
Source: CNN
