A New York appeals court rejected Donald Trump’s attempt to postpone his sentencing in the hush money case set for Friday, May 30, 2024. The case involves 34 counts of falsifying business records linked to payments made to adult-film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.
Associate Justice Ellen Gesmer swiftly denied Trump’s request after a brief hearing on Tuesday afternoon. Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, argued that the sentencing should be paused while an appeal is underway. Blanche pointed to a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, claiming Trump, as president-elect, has constitutional protections.
An Unprecedented Case
Blanche admitted there’s no legal precedent for presidential immunity covering a president-elect. Gesmer asked if any past rulings supported their request. “There has never been a case like this,” Blanche said.
Blanche stressed that even a brief one-hour sentencing is a significant moment. “A criminal sentencing is a big deal in someone’s life,” he said. However, he acknowledged that Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the trial, had offered to sentence Trump back in July.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, represented by Steven Wu, argued that Trump’s role as president-elect does not require special treatment. Wu said, “The sentencing has to happen at some point, right?” He added that delaying it now would make it harder to arrange once Trump takes office.
Appealing the Conviction
Trump’s legal team is appealing the guilty verdict, arguing it should be thrown out due to presidential immunity and procedural issues. Trump was convicted in May for directing payments through his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to cover up claims about an alleged affair with Daniels. Trump has denied the affair.
Blanche also cited the Department of Justice’s decision not to prosecute Trump in federal cases after his election. Gesmer rejected that analogy, saying it wasn’t a valid comparison.
Both sides acknowledged that no legal precedent exists for granting immunity to a president-elect. Wu made it clear: “There is none whatsoever for that claim.”
What’s Next?
Trump’s attorneys have more options to block the sentencing if the appeals court rules against him. However, Merchan previously indicated he does not plan to impose prison time.
With less than two weeks until Trump’s inauguration, his lawyers are racing to push back the proceedings. If successful, the case could remain unresolved for months.
This story has been updated with new developments.
(source : newsbreak.com)
