Sentencing of Former President Donald Trump in Hush-Money Case Delayed Until After November Election

The sentencing of former United States President Donald Trump in a criminal hush-money case has been postponed until after the November presidential election. New York Judge Juan Merchan announced on Friday that the sentencing date, originally set for September 18, will now take place on November 26. This decision marks the second delay in the sentencing hearing, which was initially scheduled for July 11.

Judge Merchan explained that the new date was chosen to avoid any perception of the proceeding being influenced by or seeking to affect the upcoming presidential election, in which Trump is a candidate. He emphasized the court’s commitment to fairness, impartiality, and apolitical conduct. However, critics argue that this decision grants Trump special treatment based on his national political status.

Trump, on the other hand, has claimed that the mere existence of the case is prejudicial to his re-election bid this November. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he stated, “This case should be rightfully terminated, as we prepare for the Most Important Election in the History of our Country.”

The new sentencing date falls exactly three weeks after the November 5 election. In May, Trump became the first president in US history to be tried and convicted on criminal charges. A jury in the New York case found him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records, as prosecutors argued that he attempted to conceal hush-money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election season.

This New York case is one of four criminal indictments Trump faces. Two of the indictments, one in Georgia and the other in Washington, DC, are related to alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential race, which Trump lost to President Joe Biden. The New York case is the only one of the four indictments to reach trial before this November’s election. Trump’s legal team is expected to appeal the verdict.

In response to the delay, Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, called for the case to be dismissed entirely, referring to it as the “Manhattan DA’s Election Interference Witch Hunt.” Trump echoed these sentiments on Truth Social, falsely blaming his Democratic rival in the presidential race, Kamala Harris, for the case’s existence. He maintained his innocence, stating, “The Manhattan D.A. Witch Hunt has been postponed because everyone realizes that there was NO CASE, I DID NOTHING WRONG! It is a political attack against me by Comrade Kamala Harris.”