Trump's sentencing for silence could be delayed due to immunity ruling

The Manhattan district attorney's office noted in a letter to the court Tuesday that sentencing should be postponed from July 11 so the defense can make its arguments about how the Supreme Court's decision could affect Trump's prosecution in state court.

Trump's conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a payment to an adult film actress before the 2016 presidential election was based in part on evidence of meetings and communications that took place while he was president.

In a landmark and far-reaching decision Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that presidents enjoy broad immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts, and that evidence cannot be used to prove alleged private criminal activity if that evidence is part of a president carrying out his official duties.

New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan has already ruled that Trump’s conduct in the document tampering case has nothing to do with his official duties as president, a decision Merchan made after rejecting a request from Trump’s lawyers to postpone the trial until the Supreme Court rules on immunity. The Supreme Court’s decision was triggered by another criminal case involving Trump, his trial for federal election interference in Washington. But it could affect his other cases as well.

Merchan must now decide whether to formally adjourn sentencing.

Although prosecutors said they would not oppose a postponement, they also said in their letter that the defense's arguments about how the Supreme Court's decision should affect the New York case are “without merit.”

This is a developing story. It will be updated.