Trump's sentencing in hush money case in doubt
Judge puts deadlines on hold in hush money case
By: Aysha Bagchi
USA Today
..... A New York court suspended all the current deadlines in President-elect Donald Trump's New York hush money case, including a scheduled November 26 [2024] sentencing on his 34 felony convictions.
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Judge Juan Merchan was scheduled ti issue a decision Tuesday [11/12/2024] on whether the Supreme Court's broad presidential immunity ruling means Trump's 34 felony convictions must be tossed out. But the pause on the case until November 19, [2024] which was made public Tuesday, [11/12/2024] means that ruling won't come this week.
..... It's unclear what Tuesday's [11/12/2024] decision to pause the current deadlines means for weather Trump will ever be sentenced.
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Trump was found guilty May 30 [2024] of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in order to cover up a hush money payment to buy adult film actor Stormy Daniels' silence ahead of the 2016 presidential election about an alleged sexual encounter between them.
..... In a statement to USA Today, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said American voters gave Trump a mandate when they elected him last week. [11/05/2024]
..... "It is now abundantly clear that Americans want an immediate end to the weatherization of our justice system, including this case, which should have never been filed, so we can, as President Trump said in his historic victory speech, unify our country and work together for the betterment of our nation,' Cheung said.
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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office didn't immediately response to a request for comment.
..... Trump's legal team asked prosecutors on Friday [11/08/2024] to agree proceedings should be paused in light of how Trump's election victory could impact the case, according to an email prosecutor Matthew Colangelo sent to the court Sunday. [11/10/2024]
..... Colangelo wrote that prosecutors were agreeing because they want to consider what next steps would "balance the competing interest of (10 a jury verdict of guilt following trial that has the presumption of regularity; (2) the Office of the President."
..... Trump lawyer Emil Bove responded in an email that there are "strong reasons" for pausing the current deadlines and eventually dismissing the case.
..... The email exchange, including a response from Merchan's law clerk granting the request on Sunday, [11/10/2024] was made public Tuesday. [11/12/2024]
..... If Trump does face a sentencing hearing, Merchan has a wide set of options, including not imposing a sentence, ordering community service or sending Trump to prison.
..... It's an open legal question, however, whether Merchan could impose restrictions that apply during Trump's presidency or even in the few months before. No president-elect has faced sentencing while approaching office, so courts have never ruled on what is permissible.
..... Regardless, Trump's election victory is a major boon to him when it comes to his criminal cases. Already, the Justice Department is weighing how to proceed with its two federal cases in light of the election. Justice Department policy states that a sitting president can't be criminally prosecuted under the Constitution.