Juan Merchan, a New York judge, has postponed Donald Trump’s sentencing in his high-profile hush-money case until November 19, potentially extending the impact of the conviction into his upcoming administration.
This update, confirmed by a court statement on Tuesday, adds another layer of delay to his legal battle over alleged hush-money payments.
“The joint application for a stay of the current deadlines… until November 19 is granted,” the court said in an email seen by AFP.
The Trump defence team’s various requests over the past year, either demanding more time or disputing portions of the procedures, have led to multiple delays in the case, which might result in Trump being sentenced on 34 felony counts.
The case stems from Trump’s April 2024 court appearance, the first time a former president has faced criminal charges.
Chronicle NG reported that Trump, 77, is accused of falsifying corporate records to conceal a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign.
This hush-money allegation is one of four criminal issues Trump is dealing with as he campaigns for the presidency.
In May, a New York jury convicted him guilty on all counts, in an unprecedented decision that shocked US political circles.
The case was adjourned for September and then postponed again.
This historically became the first conviction of a former president for business fraud, setting off waves across media outlets.
Trump’s lawyers hoped that a Supreme Court rule on presidential immunity would provide him with a cloak, but Judge Juan Merchan postponed sentence until September and, later, November.
According to a statement issued at the time by Biden’s campaign, the conviction demonstrated that “no one is above the law.”
President Joe Biden’s communications director, Michael Tyler, said, “Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain.”
His defence claims that the payments to Daniels were legal expenses and did not violate any state or federal laws.
However, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office claims that the payments were structured to circumvent New York’s election laws, making them an illegal campaign contribution.
Prosecutors allege that the funds were intended to influence the election in Trump’s favour, as highlighted by The New York Times.
The Supreme Court’s July 1 ruling granting immunity to sitting presidents added complexity to Trump’s case as his defence team argued for dismissal.
Merchan warns of the “fraught complexities” involved and emphasises a desire to prevent the legal proceedings from impacting the election.
Despite his legal battles, Trump won the November 5 election against Kamala Harris.
However, his victory has complicated his other cases. Special prosecutor Jack Smith is reportedly reducing federal probes into his role in election interference and classified documents, which could be deferred.
Meanwhile, the Fulton County election interference case in Georgia has been put on hold following a new appeal, with prosecution prospects uncertain due to recent revelations about District Attorney Fani Willis’s office.
