President-elect Donald Trump faces another legal setback as he attempts to postpone his sentencing in a high-profile criminal case.
According to Daily Mail, an appeals court judge on Tuesday rejected Trump's latest attempt to delay his Friday sentencing in the hush money case, just 10 days before his presidential inauguration.
The denial came after Associate Justice Ellen Gesmer of the Appellate Division held an emergency hearing to evaluate Trump's legal team's claims about presidential immunity extending to the transition period. Trump's lawyers had filed a 500-page appeal Tuesday morning, following Judge Juan Merchan's earlier ruling that the sentencing should proceed as scheduled.
Trump's attorneys, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, centered their appeal on recent Supreme Court decisions regarding presidential immunity.
Their argument expanded the immunity claim to cover the transition period between winning the election and taking office on January 20. Both lawyers are set to take positions in the incoming Trump administration, with Blanche nominated as deputy U.S. attorney general and Bove as principal associate deputy attorney general.
In their submission to the court, Trump's legal team emphasized the constitutional implications of proceeding with sentencing during this period. They argued that the case threatens the institution of the presidency and contradicts established precedent regarding criminal proceedings against a president-elect.
Trump's spokesperson, Steven Cheung, reinforced their position by characterizing the case as a "witch hunt" and arguing that recent Supreme Court decisions on immunity necessitate immediate dismissal.
A New York jury found Trump guilty in April on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Throughout the six-week trial, Trump maintained his campaign presence in Manhattan, with supporters gathering daily outside the criminal courthouse.
Judge Merchan responded to the delay request in a 17-page ruling, stating that Trump's arguments were largely repetitive of previous claims. In his latest decision, he noted: "Presidential immunity violations cannot be ignored in favor of a rushed pre-inauguration sentencing."
The judge has indicated he will not impose prison time, opting instead for a conditional discharge. This means Trump will remain a convicted felon but face neither fines nor probation when he takes office as president on January 20.
After Justice Gesmer's emergency hearing on Tuesday, she issued a concise one-line ruling rejecting the stay request. The decision marks Trump's second unsuccessful attempt to have the case dismissed since the verdict.
The situation presents unique challenges as the justice system attempts to balance criminal proceedings with constitutional considerations regarding the presidency. The case has highlighted the complex intersection of legal accountability and executive privilege.
Donald Trump's attempt to delay his hush-money case sentencing has been definitively rejected by New York's appeals court. The former president and president-elect faces sentencing on Friday for 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to Stormy Daniels. While avoiding prison time through a conditional discharge, Trump will enter office as a convicted felon, creating an unprecedented situation in American presidential history.
