Donald Trump’s sentencing has been postponed until September 18th as his lawyers plan to argue that a Supreme Court decision granting immunity to presidents for official acts should invalidate his felony conviction for concealing hush money paid to a porn star. The judge in Trump’s Manhattan criminal case, Juan M. Merchan, delayed the sentencing to further examine the implications of this new ruling.
Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, and he now faces the possibility of probation or even prison time. The delay in sentencing comes as a surprise in a case that resulted in the first conviction of a sitting American president. With the upcoming election, this sentencing could be a crucial moment of accountability for Trump, whose other legal cases are facing delays.
Originally scheduled for July 11th, Trump’s sentencing was pushed back after the Supreme Court’s decision granting him immunity for actions taken during his presidency. While this ruling primarily affects his federal case in Washington related to the 2020 election, the Manhattan case focuses on his personal actions during the 2016 campaign. It remains to be seen whether the judge will accept Trump’s attempt to use the ruling to overturn his conviction.
This delay in sentencing raises questions about the potential impact of presidential immunity on Trump’s legal troubles. It also underscores the significance of this case as a test of accountability for a former president. As the legal proceedings continue, the outcome of Trump’s sentencing will be closely watched by the public and legal experts alike.
