A judge has delayed his decision on dismissing Donald Trump’s hush-money conviction. Judge Juan Merchan announced that he would make a ruling on 19 November. This decision follows a request for more time from both Trump’s defense team and prosecutors.
Earlier this year, Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. This conviction involved actions related to the 2016 election and made Trump the first U.S. president to face criminal charges. Despite the conviction, Trump’s approval ratings have not changed much. He remains the leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.
The case is about payments Trump made to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen. Cohen paid $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged affair with Trump. Prosecutors claim that Trump recorded this payment as “legal expenses” to cover up a breach of New York state election laws, which forbid illegal campaign contributions.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, led by Alvin Bragg, argues that the $130,000 was an illegal campaign contribution. It exceeded the $2,700 limit for individual donations, as it aimed to help Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Originally, Trump’s sentencing was set for 10 July. However, a Supreme Court ruling on 1 July granted sitting presidents broad immunity for actions taken in office. Trump’s legal team requested a delay in sentencing for this reason. Judge Merchan agreed, moving the proceedings to 18 September. Trump’s lawyers sought more time in August to possibly appeal Merchan’s decision.
On 6 September, Merchan postponed the sentencing again, this time to 26 November. He cited the “complexities” of the case and concerns about political influence due to the upcoming presidential election.
Trump’s legal team argues there are strong reasons to dismiss the case for the sake of justice. The ongoing election campaign and other legal challenges add complexity to the situation.
Special prosecutor Jack Smith is also concluding investigations into Trump’s alleged election interference and handling of classified documents. Meanwhile, a state-level election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is delayed due to an ongoing appeal.
Trump’s election success may impact his legal cases, and it is likely that challenges will continue, possibly delaying resolutions until after 2029.