- Former President Donald Trump will not be sentenced in his New York criminal hush money case until after the Nov. 5 presidential election, a judge ruled
- The sentencing date, which was set for Sept. 18, will instead take place on Nov. 26, Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan ruled
- The Republican presidential nominee will not be sentenced at all if Merchan grants Trump’s request to dismiss the case in light of a Supreme Court ruling expanding the scope of presidential immunity
Former President Donald Trump’s sentencing in his New York criminal hush money case has been postponed until after the November 5 presidential election, a ruling issued by Judge Juan Merchan on Friday.
The original sentencing date of September 18 has been rescheduled to November 26. Judge Merchan’s decision came in response to a request from Trump, who is currently the Republican presidential nominee.
Judge Merchan also stated that Trump could potentially avoid sentencing altogether if the court grants his motion to dismiss the case. This motion is based on a recent Supreme Court ruling expanding the scope of presidential immunity. The judge will address Trump’s request to overturn the jury’s guilty verdict on November 12, and sentencing will occur only if deemed necessary two weeks later.
In his four-page order, Judge Merchan emphasized the historical significance of the case, noting its unique position in American legal history. He stressed the importance of a sentencing hearing that is focused solely on the jury’s verdict and free from external influences or distractions. The judge acknowledged the complexities of conducting a fair sentencing hearing under the current circumstances.
The case revolves around a $130,000 payment made by Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, to silence porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election regarding an alleged affair. Trump later reimbursed Cohen in monthly installments.
In July, Trump requested Judge Merchan to dismiss the case and vacate the guilty verdict, citing the Supreme Court’s July 1 ruling that granted former presidents presumptive immunity for their official acts. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office contended that the Supreme Court’s ruling was not relevant to this case and did not justify overturning the jury’s verdict.
The Supreme Court’s decision had already led to the postponement of Trump’s sentencing from its original date of July 11 to September 18.
In response to the delay, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung criticised the proceedings, calling them an "Election Interference Witch Hunt" and asserting that, according to the Supreme Court, the case should be dismissed along with other alleged political hoaxes.
Trump’s legal team has also sought Judge Merchan’s recusal, accusing him of political bias due to his adult daughter’s affiliation with a political firm that works with prominent Democrats, including President Joe Biden.
Judge Merchan had previously rejected two recusal requests and, on August 13, dismissed a third bid, describing it as an attempt to challenge the court’s rulings rather than a legitimate basis for recusal.
Trump unveils new crypto platform
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that former United States President Donald Trump has unveiled a new crypto platform called The Defiant Ones. Trump said the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) platform will provide Americans with a substitute for the traditional, established financial system.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, the Republican presidential candidate said the platform would fight against big banks and give Americans a more independent, more functional option.
