Donald Trump’s New York hush money sentencing in jeopardy as case deadlines paused
A New York court suspended all the current deadlines in President-elect Donald Trump‘s New York hush money case, including a scheduled Nov. 26 sentencing on his 34 felony convictions.
Judge Juan Merchan was scheduled to issue a decision Tuesday on whether the Supreme Court’s broad presidential immunity ruling means Trump’s 34 felony convictions must be tossed out. But the pause on the case until Nov. 19, which was made public Tuesday, means that ruling won’t come this week.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives for his criminal trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments
at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 … Show more
It’s unclear what Tuesday’s decision to pause the current deadlines means for whether Trump will ever be sentenced. Merchan ordered prosecutors to provide an update on their view of how to proceed in the case, in light of Trump’s presidential election victory.
Trump was found guilty May 30 of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in order to cover up a hush money payment to buy porn star Stormy Daniels’ silence ahead of the 2016 presidential election about an alleged sexual encounter between them.
If Trump does face a sentencing hearing, Merchan has a wide set of options, including not imposing a sentence, ordering community service, or sending Trump to prison.
It’s an open legal question, however, whether Merchan could impose restrictions that apply during Trump’s presidency, or even in the few months before. No president-elect has been facing sentencing while approaching office, so courts have never ruled on what is permissible before.
Regardless, Trump’s election victory is a major boon to him when it comes to his criminal cases. Already, the Justice Department is weighing how to proceed with its two federal cases in light of the election. Justice Department policy states that a sitting president can’t be criminally prosecuted under the Constitution.
Photos show former president Trump in historic hush money trial
Donald Trump was found guilty on all counts in his hush money trial on May 30, 2024, becoming the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime.