New York City Judge Juan Merchan has indefinitely postponed sentencing in the case involving President-elect Donald Trump, who faced 34 felony convictions related to falsified business records.
The charges stemmed from allegations that Trump orchestrated hush money payments during the 2020 presidential campaign to silence claims of an affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels, Trump hailed the delay as a “victory.”
In his written Decision and Order, Merchan approved Trump’s legal team’s request to file a motion to dismiss under Criminal Procedure Law. He also granted a motion schedule and adjourned the sentencing hearing initially set for November 26, 2024.
Merchan stated he would hold off on releasing his decision regarding the impact of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity until after both the defense and prosecution submit necessary filings by December 2.
This ruling could significantly influence not only this case but also several other legal challenges Trump is currently facing.
The Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, brought 34 charges against Trump, alleging that he falsified business records to cover up payments to Michael Cohen, his former attorney.
Cohen, in turn, allegedly paid Daniels to ensure her silence about an alleged affair with Trump before his political career began.
While falsifying business records is typically prosecuted as a misdemeanor in New York, Bragg argued these instances were elevated to felonies because they were intended to conceal another crime. However, the specific underlying crime was never named.
The Manhattan jury convicted Trump on all counts, despite instructions that jurors did not need to agree on what the alleged larger crime was.
Before sentencing could proceed, Trump’s legal team leveraged the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity in a separate federal case, complicating the path forward for Merchan’s ruling.
The Supreme Court recently held that presidents are immune from prosecution for acts undertaken as part of their official duties. This decision has rippled through Trump’s various legal cases, forcing courts to reevaluate charges brought against him.
In the federal classified documents case in Florida, Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case entirely, citing the immunity ruling. DOJ special prosecutor Jack Smith, who brought the case, was unable to salvage it.
Similarly, Smith’s January 6 case against Trump has reportedly entered its final stages, with prosecutors preparing to close the matter without a judicial resolution.
In Georgia, another high-profile case against Trump concerning alleged election interference has also been postponed indefinitely. That delay stems from conflicts of interest involving the prosecuting district attorney.
Trump celebrated the adjournment of his sentencing, viewing it as a broader vindication amid his mounting legal battles.
While his critics argue these delays hinder accountability, Trump’s supporters see the postponements as evidence of legal overreach being rectified.
For now, Trump’s legal fate remains uncertain as courts and prosecutors grapple with the implications of the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling.
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