NEW YORK — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s request to postpone his sentencing related to hush-money payments to an adult film star was denied on Monday by Justice Juan Merchan, who rejected arguments citing presidential immunity and the demands of Trump’s upcoming inauguration.
Trump’s legal team, led by attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, sought to delay Friday’s sentencing, arguing that proceeding before his January 20 inauguration would undermine constitutional protections.
“Presidential immunity violations cannot be ignored in favour of a rushed pre-inauguration sentencing,” they wrote in a court filing.
However, Merchan dismissed the motion as largely repetitive of previously raised arguments, reiterating his stance set last week.
He maintained that a sentencing date of January 10 was appropriate and noted that he was not inclined to impose jail time. Instead, Merchan indicated he would likely opt for an unconditional discharge — a ruling acknowledging Trump’s guilt without fines or probation.
The judge clarified that Trump, 78, could appear in person or virtually for the sentencing.
Prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, who opposed the delay, argued that the public interest in a swift resolution outweighed any potential inconvenience.
“The balance of equities weighs heavily in the People’s favor given the strong public interest in prompt prosecution and the finality of criminal proceedings,” they wrote.
Trump, a Republican, has consistently framed the case as a politically motivated attack by Bragg, a Democrat, to harm his reelection bid.
Bragg’s office, however, emphasized that falsification of business records is a charge regularly prosecuted under New York law.
This development marks a significant legal milestone for Trump as he prepares to assume office. Whether his legal challenges will impact his presidency remains a topic of intense public scrutiny.
