Supreme Court Rejects Trump’s Bid to Delay Sentencing in Hush Money Case
Trump’s Conviction and Sentence Imminent
A divided Supreme Court on Thursday rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s bid to delay his sentencing in his hush money case in New York. The court’s order clears the way for Judge Juan M. Merchan to impose a sentence on Friday on Trump, who was convicted in what prosecutors called an attempt to cover up a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels. Trump has denied any liaison with Daniels or any wrongdoing.
Trump’s Argument for Delay
Trump’s attorneys have argued that evidence used in the Manhattan trial violated last summer’s Supreme Court ruling giving Trump broad immunity from prosecution over acts he took as president. At the least, they have said, the sentencing should be delayed while their appeals play out to avoid distracting Trump during the presidential transition.
Prosecutors’ Rebuttal
Prosecutors pushed back, saying there’s no reason for the court to take the "extraordinary step" of intervening in a state case now. Trump’s attorneys haven’t shown that an hourlong virtual hearing would be a serious disruption, and a pause would likely mean pushing the case past the Jan. 20 inauguration, creating a yearslong delay in sentencing if it happens at all.
New York Courts’ Refusal to Postpone Sentencing
Trump’s attorneys went to the justices after New York courts refused to postpone sentencing, including the state’s highest court on Thursday. Judges in New York have found that the convictions on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to personal matters rather than Trump’s official acts as president.
Case Background
Daniels says she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. He denies it. Trump’s attorneys called the case politically motivated, and they said sentencing him now would be a "grave injustice" that threatens to disrupt the presidential transition as the Republican prepares to return to the White House.
Defense Team
Trump is represented by D. John Sauer, his pick to be the solicitor general, who represents the government before the high court. Sauer also argued for Trump in the separate criminal case charging him with trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election that resulted in the Supreme Court’s immunity opinion.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s decision paves the way for Judge Merchan to impose a sentence on Trump, which is expected to be a non-custodial sentence, as the judge has previously stated. The ruling is a significant blow to Trump’s bid to delay his sentencing, and it brings the case one step closer to closure.
FAQs
Q: What is the case about?
A: The case involves a hush money payment made by Trump to porn actor Stormy Daniels in 2006, which Trump has denied making.
Q: What is the charge against Trump?
A: Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to personal matters.
Q: What is the expected sentence?
A: Judge Merchan has stated that he will not impose a sentence that includes jail time, fines, or probation.
Q: Why did Trump’s attorneys ask for a delay?
A: Trump’s attorneys argued that evidence used in the trial violated the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity and that a delay was necessary to avoid disrupting the presidential transition.
