NEW YORK: A New York judge on Friday (Sep 6) delayed former US President Donald Trump’s sentencing on charges stemming from hush money paid to a porn star until Nov 26.
Trump, the Republican nominee for president, had asked Justice Juan Merchan to push back his sentencing date until after the Nov 5 election. Trump had previously been scheduled to be sentenced on Sep 18, less than two months before the election.
Trump’s lawyers in August argued there would not be enough time before the sentencing for the defense to potentially appeal Merchan’s forthcoming ruling on Trump’s request to overturn the conviction due to the US Supreme Court’s landmark decision on presidential immunity.
Merchan had been scheduled to rule on that motion on Sep 16.
The Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling, which related to a separate criminal case Trump faces, found that presidents cannot be criminally prosecuted for their official acts, and that evidence of presidents’ official actions cannot be used to help prove criminal cases involving unofficial actions.
Prosecutors with Bragg’s office argued their case involved Trump’s personal conduct, not official acts, so there was no reason to overturn the verdict.
But they took no position on Trump’s request to delay sentencing, saying in an Aug 16 filing they deferred to Merchan on the question. The prosecutors said an appellate court could delay the sentencing anyway to give itself time to consider Trump’s arguments, a move they said would be “disruptive”.
Bragg’s team also said Trump’s court appearances required significant security and logistical planning and said there was a risk preparations could be made for his sentencing only to be called off. Trump’s six-week trial brought a heavy police presence to lower Manhattan.
