Former U.S. President and now President-Elect Donald Trump has requested a delay in his sentencing, originally scheduled for January 10, over criminal charges related to the secret $130,000 payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Trump’s legal team filed a motion in a New York court, seeking to delay the sentencing while they appeal Judge Juan Merchan’s decision to reject their motion to dismiss the case based on presidential immunity and obligations related to the presidential transition period. This request, if granted, would mean Trump is unlikely to face sentencing before his inauguration on January 20.
The Hush Money Case
The case revolves around a $130,000 payment made by Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to Daniels, who claimed she had an affair with Trump, an allegation the former president denies. The payment was allegedly made to silence Daniels about the affair before the 2016 presidential election.
In May, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying documents to conceal the payment, marking a significant legal setback for the former president.
Trump’s Legal Strategy
Trump’s attorneys, Todd Blanche and Emil Bov, have requested the delay while they pursue an appeal of Judge Merchan’s decisions, including his denial of motions to dismiss the case. The judge has indicated that Trump, who is 78 years old, will likely not face jail time or significant legal repercussions, and he can attend the sentencing either in person or via video link.
Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Chung, claimed that the president’s victory in the November election demonstrated that the American people wanted an “immediate end to the abuse of our justice system.”
Political Context and Reactions
Trump, a Republican, has long argued that the Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, initiated the case to harm his re-election campaign. Bragg’s office has maintained that criminal charges for falsifying business records are routinely pursued.
