Emmanuel OchayiDonald Trump, the embattled president-elect of the United States, is requesting a postponement of his sentencing in the New York hush money case until after his inauguration.
Scheduled for this Friday, Trump’s legal team is appealing the conviction and seeking a delay.
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The Manhattan district attorney’s office has urged Judge Juan Merchan to proceed with the sentencing as planned. They argue that Trump’s conviction should stand and that the sentencing process should not be delayed further.
Trump’s Legal Team Appeals
Trump’s lawyers filed a request on Monday to stay the sentencing. They cited their appeal of two rulings by Judge Merchan, which rejected Trump’s attempts to dismiss the conviction.
In the filing, Trump’s team argued that the case should be dismissed altogether due to the immunity granted by his election as president.
Judge’s Rejection of Trump’s Appeal
Judge Merchan had previously rejected Trump’s argument for dismissal based on presidential immunity. Despite this, Trump’s sentencing is set for Friday, with Merchan indicating that no jail time will be imposed.
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Prosecution’s Response to Trump’s Request
The Manhattan district attorney’s office responded firmly to Trump’s latest request. They emphasized that Trump would not suffer prejudice from the conclusion of the criminal proceedings and noted that he has opted to appear for sentencing virtually.
Trump Conviction Details
In May, Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records. These charges stemmed from payments made to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to reimburse a $130,000 payment to adult-film star Stormy Daniels.
The payment was allegedly intended to keep Daniels from speaking about an affair with Trump before the 2016 election. Trump has consistently denied the affair.
Prosecutors’ Argument Against Delay
Prosecutors highlighted that the current schedule resulted from Trump’s repeated requests for adjournments. They asserted that Trump should not now complain about delays he himself caused.
Presidential Immunity Argument For Trump
Trump’s legal team is relying heavily on the argument of presidential immunity, a matter that has already been addressed by the Supreme Court in related rulings. Despite these arguments, the court remains firm on proceeding with the sentencing.
As Trump prepares for his upcoming inauguration, his legal battles remain a focal point. The request for a delay in sentencing reflects ongoing legal strategies and the complexities surrounding presidential immunity in criminal cases.
Emmanuel Ochayi is a journalist. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, School of first choice and the nations pride. Emmanuel is keen on exploring writing angles in different areas, including Business, climate change, politics, Education, and others.
