The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s criminal hush money case has decided to postpone sentencing indefinitely, marking a legal victory for the President-elect as he prepares for his return to the White House.
In May, Mr. Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts after a jury concluded that he had unlawfully altered business records to conceal an alleged sexual encounter with a porn star during the lead-up to the 2016 election.
Prosecutors contended that this concealment was aimed at aiding his initial presidential campaign.
Originally set to be sentenced on November 26, Mr. Trump had resisted any attempts to impose a sentence before he resumes the presidency in January.
Mr. Trump’s legal team referenced a Supreme Court ruling that grants presidents extensive immunity for actions carried out while in office.
This pivotal ruling, decided with a 6-3 conservative majority, affirmed that presidents are broadly immune from prosecution for a variety of official acts conducted during their tenure.
Prior to the election, Mr. Trump’s attorneys sought to dismiss the case in light of the Supreme Court ruling, a request that prosecutors have staunchly opposed.
The judge has allowed Mr. Trump to pursue a motion to have the conviction overturned, which likely indicates several additional hearings that could be postponed until after Mr. Trump takes office.
Judge Juan Merchan’s order stated, “The defendant’s request for leave to file a motion to dismiss… is granted.”
Election interference case postponed indefinitely
In an unrelated case regarding election interference from 2020, Special Counsel Jack Smith has sought to vacate deadlines, leading to an indefinite delay of the case – but it has not been dismissed entirely.
This action aligns with the established Department of Justice policy against prosecuting sitting US presidents.
The Manhattan prosecutor previously recognized in court correspondence that “these are unprecedented circumstances” and advocated for balancing the jury’s verdict with Mr. Trump’s election.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr, who served under Mr. Trump, has noted that the New York case, as well as others across the nation, were “plainly brought for political purposes (and) have now been extensively aired and rejected in the court of public opinion.”
Mr. Trump has continuously labeled the hush money case as a witch hunt, asserting it “should be rightfully terminated.”
In addition to the New York case initiated by state prosecutors, Mr. Trump is contending with two ongoing federal cases: one concerning his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and another related to allegedly mishandled classified documents after his presidency.
Nevertheless, as president, he would have the authority to intervene and halt those cases, and Jack Smith, the special counsel managing both inquiries, has reportedly begun to wind them down.
A federal judge appointed by Donald Trump previously dismissed the documents case, yet Mr. Smith had sought to appeal that ruling.
