A court in New York has rejected a motion by US President-elect Donald Trump’s legal team to postpone the announcement of the sentence in the porn star bribery case. The sentence is due to be handed down on 10 January 2025, 10 days before his inauguration, FoxNews reports.
The judge’s decision
Judge Juan Merchant, who is hearing the case, noted in his ruling that the hearings would be held in accordance with the previous schedule:
“The defendant’s motion to suspend these proceedings, including the sentencing hearing scheduled for 10 January 2025, is hereby dismissed,” the ruling said.
Trump’s legal defence
Trump’s spokesman, Stephen Cheung, said that the president’s legal team is seeking to stop what they call a “witch hunt”. In their view, the verdict violates legal precedents, including the Supreme Court’s decision on the president’s immunity in office.
The context of the case
In May 2023, a jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records. This is related to an attempt to conceal a $130,000 payment to a porn star during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Nevertheless, Judge Merchant hinted at the possibility of a so-called “unconditional release”, which allows Trump to remain the current president even if he is a convicted felon.
Implications of the decision
The date of the verdict coincides with the period of preparation for the inauguration, which creates legal and political tension. Trump’s legal team continues to seek dismissal of the case, citing presidential immunity.
