A Manhattan judge has decided to delay Donald Trump’s sentencing in the hush-money case and indicated he may consider dismissing the case altogether, following Trump’s victory in the presidential election.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan announced that he would review arguments from Trump’s legal team, who assert that continuing with a case against a president-elect could disrupt the “orderly transition of executive power” and create significant instability for the nation.
This postponement significantly increases the likelihood that Trump will return to the White House with minimal repercussions from the four criminal cases that once posed a serious threat to his campaign and personal freedom.
Justice Merchan directed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Trump’s attorneys to submit their written arguments by December, at which point the court will decide whether to proceed with or dismiss the case.
Bragg has maintained that the conviction should remain intact, emphasizing that the case was initiated when Trump was still a private citizen.
The delay in sentencing marks the latest chapter in a lengthy legal saga that reached a dramatic peak with Trump, now 78, spending six weeks in a cramped Manhattan courtroom.
Evidence presented during the trial included details of Trump’s alleged collaboration with his former attorney Michael Cohen and the National Enquirer to suppress damaging stories.
The jury’s guilty verdict in May marked Trump as a convicted felon during the crucial final months of his campaign. Trump, however, used the conviction to galvanize his base, labeling the trial as a politically motivated “witch hunt” orchestrated by his Democratic opponents.
Following the verdict, Trump’s campaign reported a massive surge in grassroots support, claiming to have raised an unprecedented $34.8 million in small-dollar contributions within hours of the jury’s decision.
Trump’s sentencing was originally scheduled for July 10, but the process was delayed when the US Supreme Court ruled that sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted for “official acts” conducted while in office.
Although Bragg’s office argued that this ruling had no relevance to the hush-money case, Judge Merchan postponed sentencing to September 18 to allow both sides additional time to address the implications of the ruling.
Merchan later rescheduled the sentencing again, moving it to November. He cited what he described as “unwarranted” allegations that his decisions might be influenced by politics rather than legal principles, particularly with the presidential election approaching.
Meanwhile, Trump’s three other criminal cases are either stalled or nearing resolution.
Federal charges in Washington, DC, alleging Trump sought to overturn the 2020 election, and in Florida, concerning classified documents kept at Mar-A-Lago, are expected to be dismissed shortly after his presidency begins—if not sooner.
In Georgia, where Trump faces accusations of attempting to overturn the state’s 2020 election results, the case has been delayed indefinitely due to controversy surrounding the lead prosecutor.
{Matzav.com}
On Nov 19, 2024, the judge delayed Trump’s hush money case indefinitely. (That’s because the judge Juan Merchan was dealt with recently.)