A New York judge has turned down Donald Trump’s request to delay his sentencing hearing in the hush-money case, keeping the January 10 date intact. The case, which has been making headlines for months, revolves around Trump being found guilty on 34 felony charges for falsifying business records.
The judge, New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, wasn’t swayed by Trump’s latest arguments. In fact, Merchan said Trump’s motion was mostly just repeating points he had already made before. Trump had hoped to put the sentencing on hold while appealing the court’s decision.
In his filing, Trump claimed the entire case against him was politically motivated, unfair, and built on false claims. He also took aim at Justice Merchan and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, saying the charges were brought to hurt him politically. Trump’s lawyers argued that since he’s the president-elect, the case should automatically pause while his appeal is reviewed, citing presidential immunity.
Trump’s legal team asked the judge to make a quick decision, requesting an update by 2 p.m. Monday. They also filed a notice of appeal, arguing that the judge’s earlier ruling—that presidential immunity doesn’t apply to Trump in this case—was wrong and needed to be overturned. The appeal claimed the case threatened the presidency itself by setting a dangerous precedent.
Prosecutors in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office fired back, saying that Trump’s appeal didn’t automatically freeze the case. They argued that Trump wasn’t likely to win his appeal and urged the judge to move forward with the sentencing.
Justice Merchan wasn’t impressed by Trump’s arguments. He said the legal cases Trump relied on in his motion didn’t really apply to the situation. On Friday, Merchan also released an 18-page order explaining his reasons for not throwing out the case.
While the judge denied Trump’s request to delay the sentencing, he hinted that Trump probably wouldn’t face jail time. Merchan noted that sentencing laws allow for incarceration, but prosecutors no longer think it’s a realistic punishment in this case. Instead, he’s leaning toward giving Trump an “unconditional discharge.” This type of sentence means no further punishment would be imposed and is often used when a judge believes any additional consequences are unnecessary.
For the upcoming sentencing hearing, Trump will be allowed to attend virtually instead of appearing in person. This decision is part of the judge’s effort to balance the legal process with the practical realities of Trump’s high-profile status.
The hush-money case, which centers around payments made during Trump’s 2016 campaign, has been a hot topic across the country. The January 10 sentencing will mark another chapter in this ongoing legal saga.
