Judge in Trump criminal case delays sentencing indefinitely

The sentencing in Donald Trump’s criminal hush money case has been postponed indefinitely, a decision made by Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case. The judge did not provide a new sentencing date in his order. 

This marks the third time sentencing has been delayed since Trump was found guilty of fraudulently manipulating business records to conceal an alleged sexual encounter with porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. Prosecutors argued that the concealment was part of a broader effort to help Trump win his first presidential campaign.

Trump, who was scheduled for sentencing on November 26, had fought to delay the proceedings until after he returns to the White House in January. Judge Merchan granted the request for a delay, stating that “the joint application for a stay of sentencing is granted to the extent that the November 26, 2024 date is adjourned.” 

Trump’s legal team is now allowed until December 2 to file a motion seeking to dismiss the case entirely, arguing that his election as president should nullify the case. Prosecutors, led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, have firmly opposed any dismissal and have stated they would fight any efforts to throw out the case.

In May, a jury convicted Trump on 34 felony counts related to his involvement in a cover-up concerning the $130,000 payment to Daniels, made by his former attorney Michael Cohen. The jury found that Trump had signed off on a plan to hide reimbursements for the payment, which Daniels and Cohen have said was made to keep her silent about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. The case was a landmark moment, making Trump the first former president in U.S. history convicted of a crime.

Trump insists he is not guilty of falsifying business records and has vehemently denied Daniels’ allegations. Despite this, the conviction stands, and Trump’s legal team continues to argue that moving forward with the case would be unconstitutional. 

The delay in sentencing comes just weeks after Trump made history by becoming the first person in American history elected president after being convicted of a crime.