Supreme Court denies Donald Trump’s request to block sentencing in New York criminal case

The US Supreme Court has rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s last-minute bid to halt his sentencing in the criminal hush-money case.

Trump had urged the top court to consider whether he was entitled to an automatic stay of his sentencing, but the justices rejected the application by 5-4.

The court, in a rationale for its order on Thursday, said Trump could address his issues with the verdict through appeals, and that “the burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elect’s responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial court’s stated intent to impose a sentence of ‘unconditional discharge’ after a brief virtual hearing.”

The decision closes the last legal attempt for Trump to halt his sentencing, which will take place just 10 days before his inauguration to a second term.

A Manhattan jury in May 2024  found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying records to disguise reimbursements for a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels as legal expenses in 2016.

Justice Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case, has indicated he will not consider a jail term for Trump.

Reacting to the new development, the president-elect told reporters the case was a “disgrace”, although the Supreme Court decision was a “fair decision, actually.”

“It’s a judge that shouldn’t have been on the case,” he said, apparently referring to Justice Merchan, and adding “they can have fun with their political opponent”.

“The pathetic, dying remnants of the Witch Hunts against me will not distract us,” he posted later on his Truth Social platform.