In major break for Trump, 'hush money' sentencing postponed until after presidential vote

Donald Trump has received major relief from courts ahead of the elections as his sentencing on a criminal hush money case has been delayed until after the presidential elections.

The former US president and Grand Old Party’s [Republican Party] presidential candidate for elections 2024, Donald Trump was convicted in May 2023 over 34 felony counts making him the only former president with a criminal record.

He was originally scheduled to be sentenced in the case on September 18. But his legal team requested for a new date on August 14, asking Justice Huan Merchan to sentence him after the elections, citing legal challenges he could face once convicted.

The court has picked November 26 as the new date for announcing the sentence in the “hush money” case, the case primarily focused on tampering with business records in the state of New York.

Public prosecutors say Trump designed and executed a scheme asking his lawyer to wire a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in an effort to keep her silent before the 2016 presidential elections.

Trump has denied the encounter and pleaded not guilty.

‘A unique case in this nation's history’

Judge Juan Merchan in his note mentioned that he made the decision "to avoid any appearance — however unwarranted — that the proceeding has been affected by or seeks to affect the approaching Presidential election in which the Defendant is a candidate."

The charges carry a maximum sentence of up to four years in jail, but Merchan can also hand down a lighter sentence that can save Trump jail time, this can include probation.

It is being widely speculated by legal experts that Trump will not be incarcerated, keeping in view his status as a first-time offender. In such cases, the judge usually decides the severity of the punishment being handed down to the offender.

US former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at Trump Tower in New York City on September 6, 2024. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP

Merchan in his order acknowledged that the case "is one that stands alone, in a unique place in this nation's history".

"The public's confidence in the integrity of our judicial system demands a sentencing hearing that is entirely focused on the verdict of the jury and the weighing of aggravating and mitigating factors free from distraction or distortion.

The members of this jury served diligently on this case, and their verdict must be respected and addressed in a manner that is not diluted by the enormity of the upcoming presidential election. Likewise, if one is necessary, the defendant has the right to a sentencing hearing that respects and protects his constitutional rights," the judge summed up the note.

'Politically prejudicial'

Trump, 78, was convicted in May of 34 counts of doctoring business records to cover up hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels to stop her from disclosing an alleged sexual encounter ahead of the 2016 election.

The twice-impeached ex-president was originally scheduled to be sentenced on July 11.

That was delayed after the US Supreme Court ruled a former president has broad immunity from criminal prosecutions.

Trump's lawyers asked that his New York conviction be dismissed following the Supreme Court immunity ruling. Merchan said he would rule on the dismissal motion on November 12.

Merchan noted Trump had asked for sentencing to be delayed "to avoid the potential 'politically prejudicial' impact that a public sentencing could have on him and his prospects in the upcoming election."

Hours earlier, Trump was in New York delivering rambling remarks about his myriad legal problems, as he denied multiple women's accusations of sexual harassment or assault.

"This is not the kind of publicity you like," Trump acknowledged at Trump Tower, even as he spent an hour, unprompted, reminding voters of the accusations of sexual assault by various women including the writer E. Jean Carroll.

The Republican presidential candidate welcomed the delay in the case. "Big news today is that the Manhattan D.A. (District Attorney) witch hunt against me has been postponed because everyone realizes that there was no case," Trump told an event in North Carolina.

"This case should rightfully be terminated immediately," he said.

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'Interference'

Trump's detailed remarks on the cases were surprising, given that he needs to win over groups like suburban women in the tight race against Harris, 59, who is aiming to become the nation's first woman president.

Trump was in court in New York earlier on Friday over the Carroll case, in which he has been ordered to pay her $5 million in damages for sexual assault and defamation.

"I never met her. I never touched her," Trump said, describing the case as "political interference."

The legal drama unfolded on the day the first mail-in ballots of the election were to be distributed.

The battleground state of North Carolina was scheduled to mail out around 130,000 absentee voting slips, marking the symbolic start of a nationwide process that during the bitter 2020 election saw 155 million Americans cast ballots.

However, a state appeals court halted the process after a last-minute lawsuit by independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who is seeking to have his name removed from ballots.

The fringe candidate from America's most famous political family has dropped out and endorsed Trump.

Other states will also soon mail out ballots, and early in-person voting begins across 47 states as soon as September 20.