Donald Trump Fights to Avoid Sentencing on Jan. 10 in Hush Money Scandal

President-elect Donald Trump is seeking to delay his sentencing in a hush money case linked to business record falsifications. His legal team submitted a motion over the weekend requesting that a judge suspend the upcoming January 10, 2025, sentencing date.

Last week, New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan rejected Trump’s appeal to dismiss the case entirely. The decision to proceed with the sentencing comes just days before Trump’s inauguration. Following this, Trump announced his intention to appeal, arguing that the pending appeal warrants the suspension of all proceedings.

In a 17-page court filing, Trump’s team contended, “Due to the fact that further criminal proceedings are automatically stayed by operation of federal constitutional law, the court will lack authority to proceed with sentencing.” They emphasized the need to vacate the January sentencing hearing until his appeal concludes.

Justice Merchan had dismissed several of Trump’s arguments aimed at overturning the guilty verdict, including claims of presidential immunity. However, he indicated that he likely would not impose jail time, suggesting an unconditional discharge instead. This alternative would close the case without further punishment, though it would result in Trump maintaining his status as a convicted felon.

The judge noted that given the circumstances, a more severe sentence seemed unfeasible, especially considering Trump’s impending return to the White House. Merchan stated, “It seems proper at this juncture to make known the court’s inclination to not impose any sentence of incarceration.” He also permitted Trump to attend the hearing virtually due to scheduling conflicts with his presidential transition.

Despite this, Trump continues to assert that the case should be dismissed entirely. His campaign spokesman criticized Merchan’s recent ruling as “deeply conflicted,” insisting it violated the U.S. Supreme Court’s stance on presidential immunity. He reiterated that the court should suspend all proceedings until Trump’s appeals regarding immunity are fully addressed.

Trump’s legal team has asked Merchan to confirm by 2 p.m. on Monday whether the sentencing will proceed as scheduled. This confirmation would allow time for potential emergency appellate action if necessary. The sentencing has already faced multiple delays, initially set for July 11, postponed to accommodate legal inquiries following the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Trump’s historic conviction in May marked him as the first former president in U.S. history to be found guilty of a crime. A jury in Manhattan determined he had falsified business records to cover up payments made to a porn star during his 2016 campaign, highlighting a broader scheme to suppress negative press about his candidacy.