President-elect Donald Trump’s sentencing in his New York criminal hush money trial has been postponed indefinitely, with no future date yet in sight. Judge Juan Merchan postponed the sentencing scheduled for the week of Nov. 22 in order to allow both sides more time to present arguments related to potentially dismissing the case.
A jury convicted Trump in May on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records in order to pay adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep her alleged affair with Trump quiet before the 2016 election. He is the first sitting or former president to have been found guilty on felony charges.
Trump’s lawyers asked to dismiss the case, citing the President-elect’s upcoming term in the White House and a Supreme Court ruling in July 2024 giving a president wide immunity from prosecution.
It’s the latest delay for a sentencing first scheduled for July 2024. Trump’s presidential campaign and legal complications from the Supreme Court ruling have led Merchan to rule in favor of delays.
Trump’s defense lawyers now have until Monday, Dec. 2, to present their argument for dismissing the case after prosecutors said they were ok with a delay. Prosecutors will have a week to respond, and have said they recognize a sentencing may need to occur after Trump leaves office in 2029.
“The People deeply respect the Office of the President, are mindful of the demands and obligations of the presidency, and acknowledge that Defendant’s inauguration will raise unprecedented legal questions,” the filing said.
Trump is set to be sworn in on Monday, Jan. 20. The defense wants Trump’s charges to be dismissed. They said a sentencing after Trump leaves office would be too long to wait.
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