Former President Donald Trump’s legal team is pushing to halt his hush-money case proceedings and postpone sentencing indefinitely, seeking federal court intervention.
Breitbart reported that Trump's attorneys are attempting to stop the criminal case proceedings against him in New York. They are also aiming to indefinitely delay his sentencing, which was originally scheduled for September 18.
The core of their argument revolves around a recent Supreme Court decision they believe could influence the outcome of Trump's state felony conviction.
The legal move to slow down the post-trial processes came into the spotlight after Trump's legal team approached Judge Juan M. Merchan. They requested a halt not only to the sentencing but also to any decisions on overturning the verdict against Trump, citing the need for a federal court's scrutiny.
The request to halt proceedings was filed in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan but was initially returned due to technical reasons. Trump’s legal representatives announced plans to resubmit their petition, emphasizing the significant implications of the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity issued on July 1.
In their request, Trump's defense, headed by Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, referenced the Supreme Court's recent ruling, which imposes limitations on prosecuting former presidents.
They argue that the ruling demands a clear separation between official acts and any alleged illegal private actions, which they assert applies to Trump's case concerning confidentiality payments made during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump was indicted in May and convicted on 34 felony counts for falsifying business records.
These charges stemmed from a $130,000 payment made to Stormy Daniels to suppress allegations of an affair, a claim that arose during the controversial 2016 presidential race.
Trump's lawyers earlier sought to postpone the sentencing beyond the upcoming November election, indicating a strategic approach to their defense timing.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, which initially prosecuted the case, has consistently opposed the immunity-based defense and Trump’s motion to dismiss or move the case.
They argue that the criminal activities alleged do not fall under the purview of actions protected by presidential immunity.
The strategic legal maneuvers by Trump’s legal team highlight a potentially groundbreaking intersection of law concerning presidential conduct and legal accountability.
By leveraging the Supreme Court's ruling, Trump’s attorneys aim to put in question the entirety of the proceedings, thereby extending the timeline and complicating the pursuit of immediate penalties.
If the proceedings were to go ahead without further delay, and if Trump’s conviction were upheld, he would face a potential sentence that includes prison time.
The range of penalties for falsifying business records is up to four years in prison, among other possibilities like probation or fines.
In their public statements, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove have strongly articulated their stance on delaying the sentencing.
They argue that rushing the trial's conclusion and sentencing does not serve justice, stating, “There is no good reason to sentence President Trump before November 5, 2024, if there is to be a sentencing at all, or to drive the post-trial proceedings forward on a needlessly accelerated timeline.”