Donald Trump's sentencing in hush-money case could be delayed

Lina Portman2 days ago

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Legend, Donald Trump calls May's verdict in New York case 'a disgrace'

Donald Trump's July 11 sentencing in the hush-money case could be delayed after his lawyers asked the judge to overturn his conviction following the Supreme Court's immunity ruling.

In a letter to Judge Juan Merchan, Manhattan prosecutors said that while they believe Trump's motion to vacate his conviction is “without merit,” they do not oppose his request to delay sentencing.

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that presidents enjoy broad immunity from criminal prosecution for “official actions” they take while in office.

Author, Jaroslav Lukiv
Role, BBC News
Report by London
July 2, 2024

A letter sent by Trump's lawyers to the judge cites Monday's ruling that granted the former president immunity from prosecution for “official actions” he took while in office.

Manhattan prosecutors have asked the judge to respond to Trump's request by July 24.

Judge Merchan must now decide whether to formally adjourn sentencing.

Video caption, What the Supreme Court's Immunity Ruling Means for Trump…in 60 Seconds

Trump's team insists that the former president signed the hush-money documents while in office in 2017, but a lawyer suggested it was unlikely to be considered an official act.

His lawyers also argued that during his Manhattan trial, prosecutors shared “highly prejudicial” evidence that should never have been presented to the jury because it dated from his time in the White House, including Trump’s social media posts from 2017 and his testimony about events in the Oval Office.

“The verdicts in this case violate the doctrine of presidential immunity and create serious risks of ‘executive cannibalism,’” Trump attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove wrote in the letter to Judge Merchan.

Last year, Trump's lawyers also argued that the allegations in the case fell within the scope of his official presidential duties.

However, a federal judge wrote that Trump had failed to demonstrate that his conduct was “for or related to any act done by or for the President under the authority of law.” [scope] official acts of a president.”

Monday's Supreme Court decision was hailed by Trump as a “great victory” for democracy.

The justices ruled that a president enjoys immunity for “official acts” but not for “unofficial acts.”

The ruling concerns a separate case against Trump, who is suspected of trying to illegally overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election that handed victory to Joe Biden.

In May, a 12-member Manhattan jury unanimously convicted Trump on all counts of falsifying business records in the hush-money case.

During the trial, the court heard from a number of witnesses, including former adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose alleged sexual relationship with the former president was at the center of the case.

The former president has been accused of concealing a payment to buy Ms Daniels' silence in the final days of his 2016 election campaign.

Prosecutors had argued that by approving a scheme to hide the money as legal fees, Trump violated election law.

Trump called the verdict in the New York case a “disgrace.”

Judge Merchan would likely agree to a postponement of sentencing, but the Supreme Court's decision is unlikely to ultimately affect Trump's conviction, said Mark Zauderer, a prominent New York appellate lawyer.

“The allegations in the New York fraud case in which Trump was convicted appear clearly to concern Trump's off-official conduct, none of which appears to involve his official duties,” he told the BBC.

“While Trump may be able to defend his immunity in some of his cases, he will have a very difficult time succeeding with that argument in the New York case.”

Additional reporting by Kayla Epstein and Madeline Halpert in New York.