NEW YORK (AP) — A Manhattan judge has decided to postpone Donald Trump’s sentencing in the case over the payment of money to a porn actress. Image internet
They reported that it will be until after the November elections.
Sentencing was scheduled for Sept. 18, about seven weeks before Election Day, but Judge Juan M. Merchán, who is also considering a defense request to overturn the verdict on the grounds of immunity, has delayed it until November 26, after the last votes have been cast in the presidential election.
Trump’s lawyers had been pushing in several instances for the sentencing to be delayed, arguing that convicting the former president and current Republican nominee in the middle of his presidential campaign would be a form of election interference.
Trump’s account of the case
Trump was convicted in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records, all related to a payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election.
Trump’s defense also requested that the sentence be postponed having more time to evaluate the steps to follow, especially after Judge Merchán issues his decision on the defense’s request to overturn the conviction and dismiss the case, relying on a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in July on presidential immunity.
Judge Merchán has decided to postpone the decision on this matter until November 12.
In addition, a federal judge recently rejected Trump’s request for the U.S. District Court in Manhattan to take up the case from Merchán’s state court. Trump’s lawyers hoped that, if successful, they could have overturned the verdict and dismissed the case on immunity grounds.
Meanwhile, the Manhattan district attorney’s office, responsible for prosecuting Trump’s case, has left the decision up to Judge Merchan and has not taken a position on the defense’s request for a continuance.