Former President Donald Trump will not face sentencing in his New York criminal case until after the 2024 presidential election, as per Judge Juan Merchan's announcement on Friday. This decision aims to avoid any potential influence on the election's outcome.
Judge Merchan indicated that Trump's sentencing is now scheduled for November 26, conditional on any necessary proceedings. This delay follows a request from Trump's legal team to push back sentencing. Trump was convicted in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to an adult-film star. His sentencing had been on hold following his lawyers' attempt to overturn the conviction based on a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.
In his letter, Merchan emphasized that the timing of the sentencing is designed to prevent any appearance of bias. “Adjourning decision on the motion and sentencing, if such is required, should dispel any suggestion that the Court will have issued any decision or imposed sentence either to give an advantage to, or to create a disadvantage for, any political party and or any candidate for any office,” Merchan wrote.
Trump expressed his approval of Merchan's phrasing, asserting that the case should be dismissed entirely. During a speech to the Fraternal Order of Police in North Carolina, Trump claimed the sentencing was "postponed" because he "did nothing wrong."
In addition to the sentencing delay, Merchan will also address Trump's motion to vacate the verdict due to the Supreme Court’s immunity decision on November 12. This postponement is part of a series of delays affecting Trump’s multiple criminal cases, which include indictments in New York, Florida, Washington, DC, and Georgia.
Merchan’s decision to push back sentencing reflects the case's historic nature and the need to balance judicial proceedings with the political landscape. The final sentencing could range from probation to up to four years in prison, though Trump could also face alternative penalties such as home confinement or community service.
