Former President Donald Trump's legal team has filed a request to delay his sentencing in the New York hush money case until after the November presidential election.
According to CNN, Trump's attorneys submitted a letter seeking to postpone the sentencing, which is currently scheduled for September 18, 2024.
The request comes in the wake of Trump's conviction in May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. These charges are related to a payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
The case has been a source of ongoing legal challenges for the former president as he navigates multiple legal issues while campaigning for the 2024 presidential election.
Trump's attorneys, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, argue that the current sentencing date is problematic for several reasons. They point out that early voting will have already begun in some states by the time of the scheduled sentencing. This timing, they suggest, could potentially influence the electoral process.
The lawyers also express concern about the short timeframe between the judge's expected ruling on Trump's motion to dismiss the conviction and the sentencing date. Judge Juan Merchan is set to rule on the motion on September 16, just two days before the scheduled sentencing. Trump's legal team argues that this leaves insufficient time for proper preparation and response.
In their letter, Blanche and Bove stated:
Setting aside naked election-interference objectives, there is no valid countervailing reason for the Court to keep the current sentencing date on the calendar. There is no basis for continuing to rush.
This is not the first time the sentencing in this case has been postponed. Originally set for July 11, Judge Merchan moved the hearing to September following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that granted Trump some presidential immunity from criminal prosecution. The judge plans to rule on Trump's request to throw out the conviction based on this immunity decision on September 16.
Trump's legal team has been actively pursuing various avenues to challenge the conviction and delay the sentencing. They have also made efforts to have Judge Merchan recuse himself from the case, citing concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to his daughter's involvement in Democratic politics.
Despite the defense's efforts, Judge Merchan has firmly maintained his position on the case. Earlier this week, he denied Trump's motion for recusal, stating that an advisory committee on ethics found no basis for him to step aside. In his decision, Merchan emphasized his commitment to impartiality and adherence to legal standards.
The judge wrote in his decision:
As has been the standard throughout the pendency of this case, the court will continue to base its rulings on the evidence and the law, without fear or favor, casting aside undue influence.
This statement reaffirms the judge's intention to proceed with the case based solely on legal merits, despite the high-profile nature of the defendant and the political context surrounding the proceedings.
Donald Trump's legal team has requested a postponement of his sentencing in the New York hush money case until after the November presidential election. The current sentencing date is set for September 18, 2024. Trump's attorneys argue that the timing could influence the electoral process and that there is insufficient time between the judge's ruling on a motion to dismiss and the sentencing date. This request is the latest in a series of legal maneuvers by Trump's team in this case. Judge Juan Merchan has previously denied requests for his recusal and maintains his commitment to impartial oversight of the proceedings.
