Trump team hails delay in hush money case sentencing as 'decisive win'
3 Min Read
Judge Juan Merchan, who oversees the case, stated that the delay would allow Trump's legal team to submit their motion, which is due in December.
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Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at 180 Church, June 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP)
US President-elect Donald Trump’s legal troubles took a significant turn on Friday as a New York judge postponed sentencing in his high-profile "hush money" case. The move, hailed as a "decisive win" by Trump’s transition team, grants his legal defense time to file a motion to dismiss the charges.
"In a decisive win for President Trump, the hoax Manhattan case is now fully stayed and sentencing is adjourned," Trump Communications Director Steven Cheung said in a statement following the announcement.
Judge Juan Merchan, who oversees the case, explained that the delay would allow Trump's legal team to submit their motion, which is due in December.
The motion is expected to reference a recent Supreme Court ruling that grants US presidents broad immunity for official acts. Trump’s attorneys argue that his election victory entitles him to similar protections, potentially challenging the validity of his conviction.
Read more: Trump seeks to set aside hush money verdict after immunity ruling
The charges stem from a jury's May decision that found Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records.
These charges relate to a $130,000 payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, allegedly to silence claims of an affair during his 2016 campaign. Trump has consistently denied the allegations and characterized the case as politically motivated.
Prosecutors Push Back
According to a report published in The New York Post, prosecutors, led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, plan to contest the immunity claim.
They argue that Trump acted as a private citizen when arranging the payment to Daniels, making the charges unrelated to official presidential duties.
Bragg has also proposed delaying proceedings until after Trump’s second presidential term, potentially postponing the case until 2029.
Read more: Trump nominates Pam Bondi for attorney general after Gaetz withdrawal
The guilty verdict against Trump in May branded him a convicted felon during the final months of his presidential campaign. However, the president-elect used the case as a rallying cry for his supporters, framing it as a "witch hunt" orchestrated by Democrats.
His campaign reported a "record-shattering" $34.8 million in small-dollar donations within hours of the jury finding Trump guilty, highlighting how the case galvanized his base.
