CurrentReport Blog In a significant legal development, Justice Juan M. Merchan has delayed the sentencing of former U.S. President Donald Trump in his hush money trial until after the November 2024 election. The decision, made on Friday, pushes Trump’s sentencing date to November 26, 2024, three weeks after the presidential election.
Initially, the sentencing was set for September 18, but Trump’s legal team secured the postponement, arguing that sentencing him amid his presidential campaign would interfere with the election. Justice Merchan stated that the delay was intended to avoid any perception that the proceedings might influence the election.
In his ruling, Merchan emphasized the court’s impartiality, stating, “The Court is a fair, impartial, and apolitical institution,” adding that the delay would dispel any suggestions of political bias.
The decision allows the 2024 presidential election to take place without the uncertainty of whether Trump, the Republican nominee, could face jail time. Trump’s legal team is also awaiting a ruling on their motion to vacate his conviction based on the U.S. Supreme Court’s July decision on presidential immunity. A decision on that request is now set for November 12, shortly after the election.
