Former President Donald Trump’s sentencing in the New York business records case has been pushed back to November 26, after the 2024 presidential election. The decision, made by Judge Juan Merchan, has sparked controversy and raised questions about potential political interference.
Trump, who is running for president again, has maintained his innocence and denounced the charges as politically motivated. He told Fox News Digital that the case “should be dead” and that he “did nothing wrong.”
Judge Merchan, however, explained his decision by saying that he wants to ensure a fair and unbiased sentencing hearing, free from distractions that could arise from the election. He stated that delaying the sentencing until after the election would avoid any “appearance – however unwarranted – that the proceeding has been affected by or seeks to affect the approaching Presidential election in which the Defendant is a candidate.”
This decision follows a series of legal maneuvers in the case. Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. He had initially been scheduled for sentencing in September, but his lawyers requested a delay until after the election, arguing that the timing would constitute election interference.
Trump’s legal team has also appealed the verdict, arguing that the case should be dismissed based on the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity. They contend that the evidence presented in the trial involved official acts of the presidency, which should be protected from criminal prosecution.
The delay in sentencing is likely to further fuel political tensions surrounding the case. Trump’s supporters see the charges as a politically motivated attempt to undermine his candidacy, while his critics view the conviction as a sign of accountability for his alleged actions. The outcome of the sentencing, which now won’t occur until after the election, will be closely watched by both sides of the political spectrum.
