Supreme Court Denies Trump’s Request to Block NY Hush Money Case Sentencing
TL/DR –
The US Supreme Court rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s request to block criminal proceedings in his New York hush money case, allowing for a scheduled sentencing hearing to proceed. Trump’s lawyers had argued that he had presidential immunity, however the court stated the issues Trump wanted to address “can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal”. Despite the Supreme Court’s rejection to delay sentencing, Trump may still attempt to appeal the verdict itself.
Supreme Court Allows Trump’s Hush Money Case Sentencing to Proceed
The Supreme Court has declined President-elect Donald Trump’s appeal to impede proceedings in his New York hush money case. This move permits the scheduled sentencing hearing to take place on Friday.
Despite a conservative-majority court, the decision came with a 5-4 vote, with four conservatives dissenting. Trump’s sentiment towards the verdict was that it was a “fair decision.”
According to the brief unsigned order, Trump’s concerns “can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal,” suggesting he won’t face prison time. Chief Justice John Roberts and conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett sided with the court’s three liberal justices to form the majority.
Despite the Supreme Court’s decision permitting the sentencing, Trump expressed intent to appeal the case verdict itself. His lawyers had argued that Trump was shielded by presidential immunity, as recognized in a ruling last year, and should therefore not face prosecution.
However, this immunity was deemed inapplicable by Judge Juan Merchan, who decided that Trump doesn’t have immunity until he is sworn back into office. Merchan has scheduled Trump’s sentencing for 34 felony counts of falsifying business records for this Friday.
In May, Trump was convicted of falsifying records related to hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the 2016 presidential election’s closing days, allegedly to conceal a past sexual encounter which Trump has denied.
The Supreme Court has significantly influenced Trump’s path back to the presidency, despite numerous legal challenges in recent years. Following a separate ruling last year, the court ensured that states could not eliminate Trump from their ballots under a constitutional provision barring those who have “engaged in insurrection” from holding federal office.
By Lawrence Hurley
Contributions by Megan Lebowitz and Alex Tabet.
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