Former President Donald Trump’s sentencing in the New York hush money case, originally scheduled for July 11, has been postponed to September 18, 2024, following a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. Judge Juan Merchan agreed to delay the proceedings to consider the potential impact of the high court’s decision, which granted broad immunity protections to presidents for official acts while in office.Trump’s legal team has seized on this ruling, arguing that it merits not only delaying the sentencing but potentially setting aside his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. They contend that some evidence presented during the trial, including witness testimony about Oval Office meetings and Trump’s social media posts from his presidency, should now be considered inadmissible as they involve ‘official acts’.The judge has set a specific timeline for this process: Trump’s attorneys must file their motion by July 10, with prosecutors required to respond by July 24. Judge Merchan will then rule on the motion on September 6, determining whether the conviction stands or if it will be set aside.Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, while agreeing to the delay, has stated that they do not believe Trump’s immunity arguments have merit. This postponement pushes the sentencing closer to Election Day and after the Republican National Convention, potentially keeping the issue at the forefront of voters’ minds.The Supreme Court’s ruling has broader implications beyond this case, potentially affecting other legal challenges facing Trump, including the federal case related to the 2020 election interference. Critics, including President Joe Biden, have expressed concern that the decision sets a dangerous precedent, potentially placing presidents above the law.As the legal and political ramifications of this ruling continue to unfold, it has become a central issue in the lead-up to the November presidential election, with both supporters and critics acknowledging its far-reaching implications for American democracy and the rule of law.
Key points
- Trump’s sentencing in the hush money case has been postponed from July 11 to September 18, 2024, due to a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.
- Trump’s legal team argues that the Supreme Court ruling could invalidate some evidence used in the trial, potentially leading to the conviction being set aside.
- The judge will rule on September 6 whether to set aside the conviction, based on motions to be filed by July 10 and July 24.
- This delay pushes the sentencing closer to Election Day and after the Republican National Convention, potentially impacting the presidential race.
Contradictionsđź‘ľWhile most sources agree on the September 18 sentencing date, one source mentions only that the sentencing has been postponed until September, without specifying the exact date.
