Judge in Donald Trump's hush money case delays sentencing indefinitely

In a legal win for the President-elect, the judge in Donald Trump’s criminal hush money case ordered on Friday that his sentencing, which was set for next week, be delayed indefinitely.

“It is… ordered that the joint application for a stay of sentencing is granted to the extent that the November 26, 2024 date is adjourned,” AFP quoted judge Juan Merchan as saying in an order.

According to a CNN report, Judge Merchan granted former President Trump’s request to file a motion to dismiss the case.

Trump’s legal team must submit their motion by December 2, while prosecutors are required to respond by December 9. Trump’s team had initially requested until December 20 to file their paperwork.

The judge also decided to delay ruling on the issue of presidential immunity until after reviewing the filings from both parties.

No new sentencing date was set, and the judge did not provide additional comments regarding the delay, added the report.

Trump’s criminal defence strategy has largely relied on delaying proceedings until after the election. He successfully postponed trials in his other three criminal cases, and in the New York hush money case, where a verdict was reached, Trump managed to push sentencing until after the election.

The jury’s verdict in that case made Trump the first former president convicted of a felony. If the conviction stands and he returns to the White House, he would be the first president to take office with such a criminal record.

With his electoral victory secured, Trump’s legal team now argues that his criminal cases should be dismissed. They have moved most aggressively to have the hush money case dismissed, especially as sentencing was fast approaching on November 26.

In May, a jury of 12 New Yorkers found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment made by his former fixer to an adult film actress ahead of the 2016 election.

While Trump could face jail time, such a sentence is rare for first-time offenders on charges like his, and he is expected to seek a delay of any punishment pending a lengthy appeal.

Before sentencing, Judge Merchan was set to rule on whether the verdict could stand, depending on the Supreme Court’s decision regarding presidential immunity. He delayed both his ruling and sentencing until after the election, and has now put them on hold following Trump’s electoral win. Both will remain delayed until the judge determines the next steps in light of Trump’s return to power, reported The Hill.

Trump’s potential return to the White House has already slowed progress in his other criminal cases.

With inputs from agencies