Sentencing in Trump Case Postponed Until After Election; Former President Cries Foul

A New York appeals court has denied Donald Trump's request to pause his criminal case, stemming from the Manhattan District Attorney's investigation, until after the presidential election. The court's decision comes after a lower court judge agreed to delay the former president's sentencing from September 18 to November 26.

A New York appeals court has rejected former President Donald Trump's request to postpone his criminal sentencing until after the presidential election. The decision paves the way for Trump to be sentenced on November 26, after the November 8 election.

Trump's attorneys had argued that there was not enough time between the court's November 12th presidential immunity ruling and the November 26th sentencing to allow for an appeal. However, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals said the motion for an emergency administrative stay was denied.

Sentencing in Trump Case Postponed Until After Election; Former President Cries Foul

Trump's initial sentencing was set for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention where he was set to be formally nominated as the 2024 GOP presidential nominee. However, Judge Juan Merchan agreed to delay that until September 18.

Trump then requested the sentencing be moved to after Election Day, citing "naked election-interference objectives." Merchan granted that request last week, pushing the sentencing date "if necessary" to November 26.

Sentencing in Trump Case Postponed Until After Election; Former President Cries Foul

Trump has appealed the verdict, pleading not guilty to all charges. His attorney, Todd Blanche, argued that the verdict should be overturned based on the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity, which grants presidents limited immunity for official acts.

Blanche also pointed to Merchan's daughter's work at Authentic Campaigns, which represents top Democratic candidates. He argued that Bragg offered official acts as evidence during the trial, which he said included official White House communications.

Sentencing in Trump Case Postponed Until After Election; Former President Cries Foul

In Trump v. United States, the Supreme Court ruled that a former president has substantial immunity from prosecution for official acts in office but not for unofficial acts. The high court said Trump is immune from criminal prosecution for "official acts" but left it to the lower court to determine exactly where the line between official and unofficial is.

After Merchan granted the former president's request to have his sentencing delayed until after the presidential election, Trump spoke exclusively with Fox News Digital. He said the case was delayed because "everyone realizes there was no case and I did nothing wrong."

Trump argued that the case "should never have been brought" and that the public understands that. He also expressed respect for the words "if necessary" used in Merchan's decision but said the case should be "dead."

Trump was found guilty in an unprecedented criminal trial on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree after a six-week trial stemming from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's investigation.

Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesperson, stated that there should be no sentencing in the Manhattan DA's case, calling it an "election interference witch hunt." He also called for the dismissal of all the "Harris-Biden hoaxes."