Donald Trump, 78, who was convicted in May of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 hush-money payment made by his former lawyer Michael Cohen to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, has seen his sentencing postponed once again. The Manhattan judge presiding over the case, Justice Juan Merchan, paused proceedings following a request from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office led by Alvin Bragg, seeking more time to balance legal and political implications as Trump prepares to assume the presidency in January 2025.
The hush-money case revolves around payments made during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign to ensure Daniels’ silence regarding an alleged affair, which Trump denies. Cohen, who facilitated the payment, testified in earlier stages of the case. Trump was initially scheduled for sentencing on November 26, but Merchan delayed it as prosecutors assess potential legal complexities surrounding presidential immunity.
Prosecutors have expressed the need to weigh the “competing interests” of pursuing normal criminal proceedings against protecting the office of the president. This decision is part of a broader legal battle involving Trump’s legal team and prosecutors, who must determine how to proceed with a convicted president-elect set to be inaugurated on January 20, 2025.
In a related development, Michael Cohen was seen leaving his Manhattan residence earlier this year, continuing to cooperate in Trump’s criminal trial. The image, captured on May 13, 2024, underscores the high-profile nature of the proceedings and the intense public scrutiny surrounding the case.
The controversy surrounding Trump’s conviction has raised questions about presidential immunity. Trump’s attorneys have argued that his status as president-elect, coupled with a July 2024 U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting sitting presidents broad immunity for official acts, merits a reconsideration of his legal status. They requested a delay, citing the potential implications of Merchan’s decision, which was postponed until November 19 for further legal review.
Judge Merchan stated that the decision to delay was necessary due to “fraught complexities” surrounding the case, emphasizing a desire to avoid any perception that the legal process might interfere with or be influenced by Trump’s 2024 presidential victory.
In August, Trump’s legal team requested additional time to prepare an appeal. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office confirmed that they had communicated with Trump’s attorneys and reached an agreement to defer court proceedings to assess the implications of his forthcoming certification as president-elect.
