The judge in former President Donald Trump’s criminal hush money case has delayed his sentencing from Sept. 18 until Nov. 26 — after the presidential election.
The decision, issued in a court filing Friday, means Trump will not face consequences for falsifying business records related to a hush payment to Stormy Daniels before voters choose the next president.
Judge Juan Merchan also said he would now rule on Trump’s motion to set aside the verdict on Nov. 12.
Trump is seeking to have the case dismissed on the grounds of presidential immunity, after the Supreme Court ruled in blockbuster decision that Trump is entitled to immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts undertaken while in office.
“The public’s confidence in the integrity of our judicial system demands a sentencing hearing that is entirely focused on the verdict of the jury and the weighing of aggravating and mitigating factors free from distraction or distortion,” Merchan wrote in his ruling Friday. “The members of this jury served diligently on this case, and their verdict must be respected and addressed in a manner that is not diluted by the enormity of the upcoming presidential election.”
Merchan appeared to arrive at the decision reluctantly, ruling that sentencing would be “adjourned to avoid any appearance — however unwarranted — that the proceeding has been affected by or seeks to affect the approaching Presidential election in which the Defendant is a candidate.”
Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at Trump Tower in New York City, Sept. 6, 2024.
Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images
Merchan’s opinion noted that any conflict was of Trump’s own making as the former president repeatedly sought to delay the proceedings.
“Notably, had Defendant been sentenced on July 11, 2024, as originally scheduled, there would of course have been no cause for delay,” the judge wrote.
Merchan also chided Trump for attempting to bolster his argument with “a litany of perceived and unsubstantiated grievances from previous filings that do not merit this Court’s attention.”
Trump was found guilty in May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.
He has denied all wrongdoing and has said he will appeal the decision.
A federal judge has decided to postpone the sentencing of two associates of President Donald Trump in a hush money case until after the upcoming presidential election. The decision comes as a surprise to many, as the sentencing was initially scheduled to take place before the election.
The case involves Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal lawyer, and David Pecker, the CEO of American Media Inc., the parent company of the National Enquirer. Both men were involved in a scheme to pay off women who claimed to have had affairs with Trump in order to keep them quiet during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations, tax evasion, and lying to Congress in connection with the hush money payments. He was sentenced to three years in prison in December 2018. Pecker, on the other hand, cooperated with prosecutors and was not charged in the case.
The sentencing of both men has been delayed multiple times due to ongoing investigations and legal proceedings. The latest delay was granted by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who cited concerns about the potential impact of the sentencing on the election.
Hellerstein stated that he did not want the sentencing to become a “political football” and that he believed it was in the best interest of justice to wait until after the election to proceed. He also noted that both Cohen and Pecker had already been punished for their crimes and that further delay would not harm them.
The decision to postpone the sentencing has sparked debate among legal experts and political analysts. Some argue that it is important for justice to be served in a timely manner, while others believe that it is necessary to avoid any perception of bias or interference in the election process.
Regardless of the reasoning behind the decision, one thing is clear: the hush money case continues to be a thorn in Trump’s side as he seeks re-election. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for his presidency and his chances of winning a second term.
As the election draws near, all eyes will be on the hush money case and its potential impact on Trump’s political future. Only time will tell how it will ultimately play out, but one thing is certain: the saga is far from over.
