By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-11-19 16:01:52 | Updated at 2024-11-19 18:29:01
2 hours ago
Donald Trump’s November 26 sentencing in his New York hush money case was adjourned by the court as the judge weighs how to handle the prosecution in the wake of the former president’s re-election victory.
The sentencing was called off without explanation on Tuesday in a short note by the court. The update on the court docket came on the same day that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg faces a deadline to give the court his recommendation on how the case should play out.
Whether Justice Juan Merchan decides the hush money case should proceed to sentencing, gets delayed for four years, or is simply dismissed outright is an open question hanging over the president-elect. Trump’s lawyer said in a letter to the court last week that there are strong arguments for dismissal, while Bragg’s office said the jury’s verdict must also be considered.
Trump, who was bogged down by four prosecutions during his presidential campaign, bet big on the election result to pave the way for an end to his legal troubles. The US Justice Department is poised to drop his two federal cases, and another state case in Georgia has been at a standstill while an appellate court reviews if the district attorney there should be disqualified because of her relationship with another prosecutor.
A New York jury in May found Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to payments to an adult-film star ahead of the 2016 election. He denies wrongdoing.
