New York Judge Postpones Trump’s Sentencing Until After Election

A New York judge has postponed the sentencing of former U.S. President Donald Trump in his criminal case for a second time, moving the date to after the November 5th election. This delay marks a notable victory for Trump, who is attempting to overturn his conviction in the high-profile “hush-money” case while campaigning to regain the presidency.

Initially set for September 18, Trump’s sentencing was delayed following a request from his legal team, who argued that the original date posed a risk of “naked election-interference.” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, brought the charges against Trump, while Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has consistently denied wrongdoing.

On Friday, Justice Juan Merchan issued an order moving the sentencing to November 26, stating that the change was to prevent any appearance that the legal proceedings could influence the presidential election in which Trump is a candidate. “The Court is a fair, impartial, and apolitical institution,” Merchan emphasized, adding that the delay would remove any notion of bias.

Trump was convicted in May of 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records. Prosecutors argued that Trump orchestrated a scheme to conceal a $130,000 “hush money” payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election. Trump has denied the affair and pleaded not guilty.

In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump thanked the judge for noting that sentencing would only occur if a pending motion to overturn the jury’s verdict is denied. “This case should be rightfully terminated, as we prepare for the Most Important Election in the History of our Country,” Trump wrote.

District Attorney Bragg’s office confirmed its readiness for the new sentencing date. Justice Merchan is set to rule on Trump’s motion to dismiss the conviction on November 12, citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision on presidential immunity, which plays a key role in this case.

While prosecutors maintain that Trump’s personal actions are at the center of this case, not his official duties as president, they did not oppose the sentencing delay, acknowledging that an appellate court might also push the date to consider Trump’s arguments.