As reported by Breitbart News, New York prosecutors have announced they will not oppose Donald Trump's request to delay his sentencing in the hush money case.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office stated in a letter to Judge Juan Merchan that they would "defer" to the court regarding the sentencing date. This development comes after Trump's lawyers asked for a postponement of the September 18 sentencing date.
The former president's legal team sought to push the sentencing back until after the November 5 presidential election, citing the need for more time to potentially appeal a separate motion on presidential immunity. Trump, who is the Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential race, was convicted in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
In their letter to Judge Merchan, the prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney's office expressed their willingness to accommodate the court's decision on the sentencing schedule. They stated that they would defer to the court on determining an appropriate post-trial timeline that allows for addressing the immunity motion while also ensuring the sentence is pronounced without undue delay.
The prosecutors further emphasized their readiness to proceed with sentencing at any future date set by the court. This stance indicates a degree of flexibility on the part of the prosecution, leaving the final decision in the hands of Judge Merchan.
The letter also acknowledged the need to balance the consideration of the immunity motion with the legal requirement to pronounce a sentence "without unreasonable delay." This suggests that while the prosecutors are not opposing the delay, they are also mindful of the importance of timely judicial proceedings.
Todd Blanche, one of Trump's attorneys, presented the argument for delaying the sentencing in a request to Judge Merchan last week. The defense team contends that the current September 18 sentencing date does not provide sufficient time for Trump to potentially appeal the outcome of a separate motion concerning presidential immunity.
This motion on presidential immunity stems from a recent Supreme Court ruling. The defense's strategy appears to be aimed at exploring all legal avenues related to Trump's status as a former president before proceeding to sentencing. The request for delay is consistent with Trump's broader legal strategy across multiple cases. As the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime, Trump has been actively seeking to postpone various legal proceedings until after the upcoming presidential election.
The case in question revolves around Trump's conviction on 34 counts of doctoring business records to conceal payments made to Stormy Daniels. These payments were allegedly made on the eve of the 2016 presidential election to prevent Daniels from disclosing an alleged sexual encounter with Trump.
A New York jury found Trump guilty of these charges in May 2024. The conviction marked a significant moment in U.S. legal and political history, as it represented the first time a former president had been convicted of criminal charges.
Judge Merchan had originally scheduled Trump's sentencing for July 11. However, following a Supreme Court ruling that suggested former presidents enjoy some level of immunity from criminal prosecution, the judge decided to postpone the sentencing. This earlier delay set the stage for the current September 18 date, which is now also under consideration for further postponement.
While the hush money case in New York has garnered significant attention, it is not the only legal challenge Trump is currently facing. The former president is also contending with charges in Washington D.C. and the state of Georgia, both related to allegations of attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
New York prosecutors have deferred to the court regarding a potential delay in Donald Trump's sentencing for the hush money case. Trump's lawyers have requested a postponement until after the November election, citing the need for more time to address immunity issues. The prosecutors stated they would not oppose a delay, leaving the decision to Judge Juan Merchan. This development is part of Trump's broader strategy to delay multiple legal proceedings as he campaigns for the 2024 presidential election.
