New York, NY—A Manhattan judge postponed President-elect Donald Trump’s sentencing in his hush-money case and indicated he might dismiss the charges entirely, citing potential disruptions to the transfer of executive power.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan said he would review arguments from Trump’s legal team, who claimed that proceeding with the case would interfere with the “orderly transition of executive power” and create a “uniquely destabilising” situation for the nation.
Initially set for July 10, Trump’s sentencing had already been rescheduled twice, and the court now allows both sides to submit additional arguments in December.
Justice Merchan’s decision increases the likelihood that Trump will enter the White House for a second term largely unaffected by the four criminal cases that had cast a shadow over his campaign.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has insisted that the charges in the hush-money case—related to falsifying business records—are valid and unrelated to presidential duties. This is a crucial distinction after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that presidents cannot be prosecuted for “official acts” taken in office.
The case centres on allegations that Trump orchestrated a scheme to silence damaging stories during the 2016 election campaign.
Witnesses, including adult film actress Stormy Daniels, testified about alleged extramarital affairs with Trump, which he has consistently denied.
Prosecutors presented evidence showing Trump worked with former attorney Michael Cohen and the National Enquirer to pay off Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who also alleged an affair.
Secret recordings during the trial captured Trump discussing the payments, with one tape featuring him asking Cohen, “What do we get to pay for this? One-fifty?”—a reference to the $150,000 payment to McDougal.
Jurors found Trump guilty of falsifying business records, branding him a convicted felon in the final stretch of his campaign.
Despite the conviction, Trump used the case to galvanise his base, framing it as a politically motivated “witch hunt” by Democrats.
His campaign claimed to have raised a record-breaking $34.8 million in small-dollar donations in the hours following the verdict, underscoring the case’s polarising effect on the electorate.
Meanwhile, Trump’s other criminal cases face similar uncertainty. Federal cases in Washington, D.C., and Florida—regarding the January 6th Capitol riots and alleged mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago—are expected to stall or be dismissed shortly after Trump’s inauguration.
A case alleging election interference in Georgia has been delayed indefinitely due to a controversy involving the lead prosecutor’s relationship with a colleague.
The hush-money case has been marked by its dramatic developments, including six weeks of testimony in a Manhattan courtroom where salacious details of Trump’s alleged actions were laid bare.
Critics argue that dismissing the case would undermine accountability. At the same time, supporters hail the delays as payback for Trump, who has labelled all charges against him as part of a broader effort to derail his political career.
Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung described the latest delay as a “decisive win” for the president-elect and reiterated claims that the case was a “hoax.”
Cheung also characterised all legal actions against Trump as “sham lawfare attacks” that have “collapsed” with his election victory.
Justice Merchan emphasised that the latest postponement allows the court to thoroughly consider whether continuing the case is in the national interest, particularly given Trump’s return to the presidency.
The decision adds another layer of complexity to a case that has already become one of the most contentious legal battles in recent political history.
