trump-hush-money-sentencing-delayed

The sentencing of President-elect Donald Trump in his criminal hush money case was indefinitely postponed by a New York judge on Friday.

In a court decision, Judge Juan Merchan also permitted Trump's lawyers to submit requests to have the case dismissed. Trump was convicted of 34 charges of falsifying business records.

For the time being, the decision nullifies the sentencing scheduled for next Tuesday.

This week, Manhattan District Attorney's Office prosecutors informed Merchan that they were in favor of delaying the sentencing date so that Trump's attorneys might attempt to have the case dismissed completely.

However, the DA's office also declared that it will fight that attempt to fire him.

The case needs to be dismissed "immediately," according to Trump's lawyers, including Todd Blanche, who Trump recently appointed as the No. 2 person at the Department of Justice.

In a letter to Merchan, Blanche and attorney Emil Bove stated that President Trump as president-elect is "completely immune from any criminal process, just as a sitting President is."

The Trump transition team praised the court order when Blanche directed CNBC to them.

"The Manhattan Case hoax is now fully stayed and sentencing is adjourned in a resounding victory for President Trump," said Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung in a statement.

Cheung declared that "all of the phony lawfare attacks against President Trump are now destroyed."

In the hush money case, Michael Cohen, Trump's attorney at the time, attempted to prevent porn star Stormy Daniels from disclosing information about her claimed sexual liaison with Trump years before to the 2016 election. Cohen said that Trump reimbursed him for the $130,000 payment after becoming office.

Trump has denied having sex with Daniels and charged that the prosecution is pursuing the case for political reasons.

Trump was initially scheduled to be sentenced in mid-July after the jury found him guilty on all counts in May. The Supreme Court's decision that former presidents had presumptive immunity for all official acts they committed while in office, however, caused that step to be repeatedly delayed.

The Manhattan Supreme Court case was the only one of four criminal cases against Trump that went to trial prior to his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the Nov. 5 presidential election.

The other criminal cases are probably going to stop as a result of Trump's win.

Before Trump takes office on January 20, special counsel Jack Smith, the prosecutor, is set to drop two federal court charges against him.

The charges in Florida and Washington, D.C., are based on claims that Trump improperly handled sensitive documents after leaving the White House and unlawfully attempted to rescind his defeat to Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

Trump has stated that he intends to terminate Smith, and he has the authority to do so as president. According to reports, Smith and his group intend to step down before Trump has a chance.

In Georgia, another state-level criminal prosecution against Trump is likewise pending and may remain so for years.

More Post