Trump hush money sentencing postponed until September

Judge Juan Merchan pushed back the sentencing date so he could consider the former US President's argument that he deserves immunity from prosecution under the Supreme Court's landmark ruling on Monday that the President cannot be criminally prosecuted for activities while in office.

Former President Donald Trump leaves a criminal trial at the New York State Supreme Court in New York, U.S., May 30, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Sentencing had previously been set for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee opens on July 15.

Mr. Trump faces an uphill battle to overturn this hush money conviction, as much of the conduct at issue in this case took place before he took office.

However, Mr. Trump's lawyers on Monday asked that the sentence be overturned due to a July 1 ruling by the US Supreme Court, which noted that evidence related to the former US President's official actions cannot be used to prove criminal cases related to unofficial actions.

Prosecutors with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office said early Tuesday that Mr Trump's team's arguments were "baseless", but agreed to postpone sentencing to give him a chance to present his case.

On May 30, a Manhattan jury found Mr. Trump guilty of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about a 2006 affair between the two until after the 2016 election, in which Mr. Trump defeated Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Prosecutors said the payment was part of an illegal scheme to influence the election. Mr Trump has denied all charges, including the affair with Daniels, and vowed to appeal his conviction.

Hoang Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ban-an-tien-bit-mieng-cua-ong-donald-trump-bi-hoan-lai-den-thang-9-post302130.html