There’s a significant update in the ongoing legal saga surrounding former President Donald Trump. Reports now indicate that Trump’s sentencing has been officially postponed and will not occur until at least September. This delay means it won’t interfere with the GOP convention in mid-July, where Trump is set to accept the nomination, marking a clear win for the former president.
🚨BREAKING: Judge Merchan has delayed President Trump’s sentencing in the Manhattan “hush money” case to September 18, 2024. pic.twitter.com/NKXtGRh2fs
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) July 2, 2024
Monday’s major Supreme Court ruling, affirming that a president enjoys immunity for official acts, has had multiple ramifications. One notable impact is that Trump’s legal team requested a delay in the scheduled July 11 sentencing for the former president’s conviction on 34 counts of business fraud.
On Tuesday, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office wrote to Judge Juan Merchan, stating they do not oppose the request for a delay. It is now up to Judge Merchan to decide whether to grant this delay. However, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass mentioned they need two weeks to respond to Trump’s request:
“Although we believe defendant’s arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion,” Steinglass responded in a letter filed Tuesday.
Currently, Trump’s sentencing is set for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention begins on July 15 in Milwaukee. However, the prosecutor’s response suggests a strong possibility of a delay, likely pushing the sentencing to at least July 24, which is after the convention.
Trump’s legal team has asked for a July 10 deadline to file their brief explaining their immunity arguments, which, if accepted, would likely necessitate a delay. If granted, this delay would allow Trump to accept the Republican nomination without the immediate shadow of sentencing hanging over him.
Trump was convicted on 34 counts in what he and his supporters have labeled as a politically motivated case by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The case involves falsifying business records to disguise reimbursements to Michael Cohen, who paid Stormy Daniels $130,000 to remain silent about an alleged affair with Trump—a claim Trump denies.
This delay, along with the recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity and President Biden’s lackluster debate performance, marks a period of positive developments for Trump. He’s been vocal on social media, criticizing Biden’s Department of Justice:
“A really bad day for Deranged Jack Smith, the wacko prosecutor used for Crooked Joe Biden’s attack on his Political Opponent. Today, as in the past, the Supreme Court gave the Deranged One a high level SPANKING! His ‘real’ bosses, Andrew Weissmann and Lisa Monaco, not to mention Merrick Garland, whose once great reputation has been shattered by these Thugs, and his constant defense of Crooked Joe, must be furious at him. Garland ought to call an end to this never-ending HOAX, and let people focus on bringing back Greatness to America!”
If the sentencing is delayed until after the convention, it will be a significant victory for Trump. However, the big question that remains is whether Judge Merchan will ultimately sentence him to jail time.
