Trump Urges Supreme Court to Halt Sentencing in New York Hush Money Controversy

WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump made a request to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, seeking a pause in his sentencing related to a hush money case in New York. He argued that the case should not proceed following last summer’s ruling on presidential immunity.

Trump is scheduled for sentencing on Friday in Manhattan after being convicted of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records. His legal team is requesting a stay to halt any future proceedings.

Justice Juan Merchan noted in his sentencing order that he is not pursuing jail time for Trump. Instead, he seeks an “unconditional discharge,” which would allow Trump to maintain a criminal record without severe penalties.

The jury’s conviction came in May after a trial that examined Trump’s efforts to conceal a $130,000 payment made by his personal lawyer prior to the 2016 election. This payment was intended to silence a porn star regarding a past affair.

Trump’s request to the Supreme Court emphasizes the urgency of addressing whether immunity applies to presidents-elect, the admissibility of evidence in his case, and if he is entitled to a sentencing delay. “President Trump is currently engaged in the most crucial and sensitive tasks of preparing to assume the Executive Power,” said D. John Sauer, Trump’s attorney.

Sauer argued that requiring Trump to prepare for sentencing in addition to the demands of assuming the presidency imposes an unconstitutional burden that compromises national interests. Todd Blanche, nominated as the future deputy attorney general, is also involved in the request.

Justice Merchan has provided the option for Trump to attend the sentencing virtually.

Earlier this week, Merchan rejected Trump’s attempt to cancel the sentencing hearing, stating that it mirrored previous requests to dismiss the case. He noted, “This Court has considered Defendant’s arguments in support of his motion and finds that they are for the most part, a repetition of the arguments he has raised numerous times in the past.” A state appeals court upheld this decision.

Previously, in December, Merchan denied another motion from Trump to dismiss the hush money case on the grounds of inadmissible evidence. The Supreme Court ruling had previously limited the scope for prosecutors investigating presidents, which Trump’s team argued was violated in this instance.

Merchan had initially postponed Trump’s sentencing following a Supreme Court decision affirming that former presidents enjoy some level of criminal immunity. The court’s 6-3 ruling, announced on July 1, was favorable to Trump, with three justices appointed by him part of the conservative majority.

As Trump prepares to take the oath of office on January 20, legal complexities continue to shadow his transition.

Last updated 11:27 a.m., Jan. 8, 2025