Prosecutors in New York are taking no position on former President Donald Trump’s request to delay sentencing of his “hush money” conviction until after the November election.
Instead, the Manhattan district attorney’s office said in a letter Monday it would defer to Judge Juan Merchan.
Trump is currently scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 18 after a jury convicted him of all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels.
Trump had originally been scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, but Merchan said last month he would rule on Trump’s immunity claim on Sept. 16 and impose sentencing two days later.
Trump has argued the recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity should render some evidence inadmissible and, therefore, throw out the conviction.
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, Aug. 17, 2024, in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
Prosecutors said they would leave it to the judge to decide whether Trump should be allowed to exhaust his appeals prior to sentencing.
“The People are prepared to appear for sentencing on any future date the Court sets,” the letter said. “The People are also mindful that significant public safety and logistical steps by multiple agencies are necessary to prepare for court appearances in this matter.”
In asking for a delay last week, Trump’s lawyers questioned whether sentencing should take place after the start of early voting, arguing that the timing harms the integrity of the proceedings.
“Finally, setting aside naked election-interference objectives, there is no valid countervailing reason for the Court to keep the current sentencing date on the calendar. There is no basis for continuing to rush,” defense lawyers wrote.
Former President Donald Trump’s sentencing date in the hush money case involving adult film star Stormy Daniels is currently up in the air, as a judge is set to decide on whether to delay the sentencing date. The case stems from allegations that Trump directed his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to make illegal hush money payments to Daniels in order to keep her quiet about an alleged affair she had with Trump.
The sentencing date was originally set for November 4th, but Trump’s legal team has requested a delay in order to have more time to review evidence and prepare for the sentencing hearing. The judge overseeing the case, U.S. District Judge William Pauley III, is expected to make a decision on whether to grant the delay in the coming days.
The hush money case has been a long-standing legal issue for Trump, with Cohen pleading guilty to campaign finance violations in connection with the payments and implicating Trump in the scheme. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has claimed that the payments were made out of personal funds and not campaign funds.
The delay in the sentencing date could potentially impact Trump’s legal strategy moving forward, as it gives his legal team more time to review evidence and potentially mount a defense. It also prolongs the legal cloud hanging over Trump, as he continues to face multiple investigations and legal challenges stemming from his time in office.
The outcome of the judge’s decision on delaying the sentencing date remains uncertain, but it is clear that the hush money case continues to be a significant legal issue for Trump. As the case moves forward, it will be important to watch how it impacts Trump’s legal standing and political future.
