Trump Seeks Delay In Hush Money Sentencing Until After Inauguration
President-elect Donald Trump is requesting that the court postpone sentencing in his New York hush money case until after his January inauguration, citing ongoing appeals and claims of presidential immunity.
The sentencing, currently scheduled for Friday, stems from Trump’s May conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen. These payments reimbursed a hush money transfer to adult-film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign to suppress allegations of an affair—claims Trump has denied.
In a Monday court filing, Trump’s legal team sought to delay sentencing, arguing that the appeal of Judge Juan Merchan’s recent rulings should halt proceedings. Merchan recently denied Trump’s efforts to dismiss the case, asserting that his election as president does not exempt him from accountability. While sentencing is set, Merchan has clarified that he does not plan to impose jail time.
Trump’s lawyers argue that postponing sentencing is necessary until his appeals are fully resolved. “The Court should vacate the sentencing hearing scheduled for January 10, 2025, and suspend all further deadlines in the case until President Trump’s immunity appeals are fully and finally resolved,” Trump’s filing stated.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office, however, urged Judge Merchan to deny Trump’s request. Prosecutors argued that the sentencing is essential to conclude the trial court’s proceedings and facilitate Trump’s stated intention to appeal.
“Defendant will suffer no prejudice from the conclusion of criminal proceedings in the trial court given the Court’s intended sentence of an unconditional discharge,” prosecutors wrote. They also pointed out that Trump has chosen to appear for sentencing virtually and noted that delays in the case were largely due to Trump’s repeated requests to adjourn earlier hearings.
Initially set for sentencing in July 2024, the case was postponed to accommodate the Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity. Judge Merchan has previously rejected Trump’s argument that presidential immunity warrants dismissal of the case.
This legal battle marks another contentious chapter in Trump’s post-election challenges, as he continues to face scrutiny over his actions leading up to his re-election as president.
