The Manhattan District Attorney’s office has expressed its willingness to postpone the sentencing of former President Donald Trump in light of the recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. Trump, who is set to be sentenced on July 11 for business fraud charges, has filed a motion to set aside his criminal conviction. The DA’s office, while maintaining that the defendant’s arguments lack merit, has agreed not to oppose the request for leave to file and adjourn the sentencing pending a decision on the motion.
In May, Trump became the first former US president to be convicted of a felony when a Manhattan jury found him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in his hush money criminal trial. However, Monday’s Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity has prompted Trump’s legal team to challenge his conviction. They argue that the ruling confirms their position that evidence regarding Trump’s “official acts” should not have been presented at the trial, and therefore, the guilty verdict should be overturned.
Will Scharf, an attorney representing Trump in the immunity case, stated that the Supreme Court’s decision has a direct impact on the hush money case. He emphasized that evidence of acts falling within the outer perimeter of a president’s official responsibilities, which are presumptively immune from prosecution, cannot be used to try private acts.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office has requested a response deadline of July 24, 2024, two weeks after the defendant’s requested deadline, to file and serve a response to Trump’s motion. While the DA’s office maintains that the arguments put forth by Trump’s legal team lack merit, they have agreed to consider the motion and delay the sentencing if necessary.
