spot_imgspot_img

Judge delays decision on Trump’s hush money case

spot_img

(The Center Square) – A New York judge delayed a Tuesday decision on the dismissal of President-elect Donald Trump’s hush money conviction after the U.S. Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling and Trump’s election win last week.

At the request of prosecutors and defense attorneys, Judge Juan Merchan hit pause on the court calendar for a week while prosecutors decide how to proceed after Trump’s win over Vice President Kamala Harris last Tuesday.

Merchan agreed to freeze the case until Nov. 19, according to court records posted Tuesday. That gives prosecutors more time to respond to Trump’s request the case be dismissed entirely after his election win.

“The stay, and dismissal, are necessary to avoid unconstitutional impediments to President Trump’s ability to govern,” Trump attorney Emil Bove wrote in an email to the judge.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office agreed to delay the proceedings while it assesses how to respond to Trump’s request for dismissal.

“The People agree that these are unprecedented circumstances and that the arguments raised by defense counsel in correspondence to the People on Friday require careful consideration,” prosecutor Matthew Colangelo wrote to the judge.

Merchan – who had already delayed Trump’s sentencing for several months ahead of the election – was set to decide Tuesday if Trump’s conviction stands after the U.S. Supreme Court’s immunity decision in July.

After the high court’s decision, Trump’s defense team had asked Merchan to dismiss the case. Bragg’s office argued that the ruling from the nation’s highest court is unrelated to Trump’s conviction on charges that he illegally paid hush money to keep women quiet about alleged sexual encounters and then covered up the payments as legal expenses during his 2016 campaign.

The judge said that if Trump’s dismissal motion fails, “the law requires the imposition of sentence following a guilty verdict without unreasonable delay.”

Prosecutors said they are trying to balance Trump’s next term in the White House with the jury’s verdict in the case.

“The People agree that these are unprecedented circumstances and that the arguments raised by defense counsel in correspondence … require careful consideration to ensure that any further steps in this proceeding appropriately balance (1) a jury verdict of guilt following trial that has presumption of regularity and (2) the Office of the President,” prosecutors Michael Colangelo wrote.

Prosecutors said they will decide how to proceed by Nov. 19.

In late May, a Manhattan jury convicted Trump on all counts in his hush money case. Trump was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records for disguising hush money payments to an adult film actress as legal costs ahead of the 2016 election. Under New York state law, falsifying business records in the first degree is a Class E felony with a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

In July, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that presidents and former presidents have absolute immunity for actions related to core constitutional powers and presumptive immunity for official actions. The ruling said the president has no immunity for unofficial conduct.

DON’T MISS OUT

Be the first to know about the latest news, giveaways, events, and updates from The Black Chronicle!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

spot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

African and Caribbean Nations Call for Reparations for Slave Trade, Propose Global Fund

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by...

Health care company agrees to pay $22.5 million to settle claims of over billing

A health care company agreed to pay nearly $22.5...

Sports betting expert offers advice on paying taxes for gambling winnings

(The Center Square) – Tax season is underway, and...

Entertainment district benefits don’t outweigh the cost, economists say

(The Center Square) — Weeks later, after more details...

Business association ‘disappointed’ by WA L&I’s proposed workers comp rate hike

(The Center Square) – The Association of Washington Business...

Suspect Arrested in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s Murder

Authorities have arrested a man in connection with the...

King County expands mobile crisis care teams to reach more people

(The Center Square) – King County is expanding its...

Constitutional amendments emphasize fiscal responsibility, judicial accountability

(The Center Square) − On Saturday, Louisiana voters approved...

Bonta backs bill requiring warning labels on social media

(The Center Square) – California Attorney General Rob is...

Prop. 479 case dropped, sales tax will continue

(The Center Square) – Proposition 479 is no longer...

Spokane to adopt 2025-26 budget closing $25M deficit with small surplus leftover

(The Center Square) – Spokane is slated to adopt...

Clark County recount underway in Senate race; GOP lawsuit already filed

(The Center Square) – Clark County election officials have...

More like this
Related

Suspect Arrested in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s Murder

Authorities have arrested a man in connection with the...

King County expands mobile crisis care teams to reach more people

(The Center Square) – King County is expanding its...

Constitutional amendments emphasize fiscal responsibility, judicial accountability

(The Center Square) − On Saturday, Louisiana voters approved...

Illinois quick hits: Durbin to chair hearing on Trump deportation plan

Johnson adviser voted in Texas last month ...