New York, NY – Former President Donald Trump received a significant reprieve as the sentencing for his hush money convictions was postponed until at least September, with the possibility of being further delayed or even dismissed following a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. Originally scheduled for July 11, the sentencing pertains to Trump’s New York felony charges of falsifying business records, to which he has pleaded not guilty. The postponement now sets the sentencing for September 18 at the earliest, while Trump’s legal team argues for the Supreme Court ruling to not only delay but potentially overturn his conviction.
Trump celebrated the postponement on his Truth Social media platform, proclaiming the Supreme Court’s decision as granting him “total exoneration” in this case and others. Despite Trump’s confidence, Manhattan prosecutors involved in the hush money case have not yet provided a statement regarding the sentencing delay.
The new date set for September 18 is significant, given its proximity to the upcoming Election Day. As Trump prepares to accept the Republican nomination at the national convention this month, the outcome of the hush money case could become a focal point for voters as they tune into the presidential race. With absentee voting timelines in mind, some voters may cast their ballots before knowing the final verdict on Trump’s legal troubles.
In recent days, Trump has experienced a series of legal victories, including the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity, which effectively halted the possibility of him standing trial for election interference before the November election. Despite ongoing legal challenges in various cases, Trump’s legal team is leveraging the recent immunity ruling to attempt to dismiss his New York conviction related to hush money payments made in 2017.
The Supreme Court’s recent decision solidified broad immunity protections for presidents, emphasizing the distinction between official and purely personal acts. This distinction is central to Trump’s defense in the hush money case, which revolves around allegations of pre-presidency activities and payments made during his time in office. The complexity of the legal arguments and implications of the Supreme Court ruling add layers of uncertainty to Trump’s legal battles moving forward.