(Photo by Allison Robbert-Pool/Getty Images)
President-elect Donald Trump won’t face sentencing this month in his hush-money case. Instead, a judge ruled on Friday (Nov. 22) to delay the post-conviction proceedings. Now, the judge requires that prosecutors and Trump’s legal team meet to discuss the consequences of his 34 charges, per the Associated Press.
For context, a jury convicted the Republican president-elect in May of falsifying his business records to disguise the true nature of payments sent to porn actor Stormy Daniels. She ultimately collected $130,000 from Donald to keep quiet about an alleged sexual encounter they had more than a decade ago. He was married at the time of their alleged act. Trump’s former lawyer allegedly made the series of payments in the days leading up to the end of the 2016 presidential election.
Despite maintaining his innocence, Trump was set to be sentenced on Nov. 26. However, with his presidential election run and subsequential win, there were questions about whether that date would stand. Judge Juan M. Merchan’s order on Friday put the questions to test. Additionally, Merchan has not set a new sentencing date yet. He called for more filing from both sides over the next 2.5 weeks about how to proceed in light of Trump’s January 2025 return to the White House.
Meanwhile, Trump’s lawyers want the case totally dismissed immediately. Otherwise, the conviction could interfere with his presidential preparations and transition. Trump spokesperson and incoming White House communications director Steven Cheung called Friday’s ruling “a decisive win” for Trump.
However, prosecutors have rejected the idea of a complete dismissal. They have reportedly suggested they’re willing to hold the case until his election term is over. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, has said the solution needs to balance presidential obligations with “the sanctity of the jury verdict.” Bragg’s office declined to comment on Friday’s ruling to AP.
