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Trump Runs to Supreme Court Seeking to Halt Sentencing in Hush Money Case

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NEW YORK, USA – President-elect Donald Trump has filed an emergency request with the US Supreme Court to delay his sentencing in the hush money case, citing the apex court’s controversial immunity ruling as part of his defence.

The move comes after New York’s state appeals court rejected Trump’s efforts to postpone the proceedings, which are scheduled for Friday.

Trump’s attorneys argue that the sentencing pause is necessary “to prevent grave injustice and harm to the institution of the presidency and the operations of the federal government.”

High-Stakes Appeal

The request, submitted Wednesday, draws on a Supreme Court ruling from last year that granted former presidents broad immunity from criminal prosecution for official actions.

Trump contends that the ruling should shield him from his May conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records.

The charges stem from payments to Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, to reimburse a $130,000 hush money payment made to adult-film star Stormy Daniels.

Prosecutors allege the payments were intended to silence Daniels about an alleged affair with Trump before the 2016 election. Trump denies the affair.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office has opposed Trump’s appeal, arguing that the scheduled one-hour sentencing hearing would not disrupt his responsibilities as president-elect.

A spokesperson for District Attorney Alvin Bragg stated, “We will respond in court papers.”

The Supreme Court has ordered prosecutors to submit their response by 10 a.m. ET Thursday.

Legal Challenges

The emergency appeal is notable as Trump’s criminal case is still under review by New York courts.

Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the trial, upheld Trump’s conviction last week and declined requests to vacate it.

While the sentencing is expected to result in no legal penalties, Trump’s legal team is pressing for the proceedings to be halted until an appeal can be litigated.

“Not for the first time, Trump is asking for relief that is just not available to other criminal defendants,” said Steve Vladeck, a Supreme Court analyst and Georgetown University law professor.

“Even if there’s something to his immunity argument, it’s not clear why a sentencing that isn’t going to produce any actual consequences has to be blocked.”

Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump, called the case a “witch hunt” and said the appeal aims to “stop the unlawful sentencing.”

Focus on Supreme Court Immunity Decision

Trump’s legal team is relying heavily on the Supreme Court’s 2024 immunity decision, which granted broad protections for former presidents regarding official conduct.

Judge Merchan previously rejected Trump’s immunity claims, ruling that the hush money payments involved unofficial actions and therefore do not qualify for immunity.

In their filing, Trump’s attorneys argue that defending himself in the case detracts from his transition efforts and threatens national security.

“President Trump is currently engaged in the most crucial and sensitive tasks of preparing to assume the executive power in less than two weeks,” they wrote.

Potential Implications

If Trump succeeds in delaying the sentencing, the case could remain unresolved for months as his lawyers pursue an appeal to overturn the conviction.

Such a delay could also set a precedent for the scope of presidential immunity and how legal proceedings against high-ranking officials are handled.

For now, the case has placed Trump’s legal battles under heightened scrutiny as he prepares to take office on January 20.

Whether the Supreme Court will grant his request to pause the proceedings remains to be seen.

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