In a stunning development, the judge presiding over president-elect Donald Trump’s Manhattan hush-money criminal case has postponed ruling on whether to throw out his conviction. The delay comes after Trump’s legal team made numerous successful attempts to stall the proceedings, arguing that the recent Supreme Court decision granting sitting presidents broad immunity for official acts while in office should nullify the guilty verdict.
Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records earlier this year, in an unprecedented criminal trial of a current or former U.S. president. Prosecutors alleged that Trump falsely recorded reimbursements to his then-lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 payoff to adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about their affair. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office argued this was done to conceal Trump’s violation of New York election law by making an illegal campaign contribution exceeding the $2,700 individual limit, all to benefit his 2016 presidential bid.
Despite the scandalous details revealed at trial about conduct unbecoming of a president, Trump’s support remained steadfast. He secured the Republican nomination and went on to defeat Kamala Harris in the general election, even as his sentencing loomed.
Supreme Court Ruling Alters Legal Landscape
The legal grounds shifted when the Supreme Court issued a bombshell ruling on July 1, granting sitting presidents sweeping immunity for official acts taken during their presidency. Trump’s attorneys pounced, pushing Judge Juan Merchan to vacate the conviction based on this new precedent.
Merchan agreed to consider the complex legal questions raised and postponed Trump’s sentencing, originally set for July 10, to September 18 “if such is still necessary” in light of the high court’s decision. Another delay came in August, as Trump’s lawyers said they needed more time for a potential appeal of Merchan’s forthcoming ruling.
On September 6, Merchan once again pushed back proceedings, this time until after the election. He set a new sentencing date of November 26, citing the need “to avoid any appearance – however unwarranted – that the proceeding has been affected by or seeks to affect the approaching presidential election in which the defendant is a candidate”. The judge acknowledged the situation was “fraught with complexities”.
Election Victory Derails Other Trump Cases
Trump’s triumph at the ballot box has had a ripple effect on his other legal woes. Sources say special prosecutor Jack Smith is winding down the federal investigations into election interference and Trump’s handling of classified documents.
The Georgia election case brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is on hold pending appeal, after revelations that Willis had an affair with a man she later hired as a prosecutor on the case. Legal experts believe that even if the case survives appeal, proceedings will almost certainly stall until after Trump leaves office in 2029.
Nation Awaits Next Chapter in Trump Legal Saga
As the country holds its breath, Judge Merchan mulls a momentous decision that could determine whether a sitting president can face criminal punishment, or if the presidency provides ultimate sanctuary, even for prior felonious acts. The outcome is sure to have far-reaching consequences for the rule of law and the bounds of presidential power.
“In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain.”
– Michael Tyler, Joe Biden’s 2024 campaign communications director
As this article went to publication, sources indicated that Judge Merchan’s ruling was imminent. The nation – and indeed the world – anxiously awaits the next chapter in this unparalleled legal and political saga that will shape the future of the American presidency.
