Lawyers representing former President Trump are seeking to postpone his sentencing hearing for the hush money case until after the November presidential election, arguing that the case is driven by “naked election-interference objectives.”
Trump was found guilty on all counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in an unprecedented criminal trial, following a six-week investigation led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
The former president’s original sentencing was scheduled for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention, where he was expected to be officially nominated as the 2024 GOP presidential candidate. However, Judge Juan Merchan agreed to postpone it until September 18.
On Thursday, Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche, filed a motion to further delay the sentencing hearing.
“The Court should adjourn any sentencing in this case, though one should not be necessary because dismissal and vacatur of the jury’s verdicts are required based on Presidential immunity, until after the 2024 Presidential election,” Blanche wrote in a letter to Merchan.
Blanche contended that the case “should be dismissed,” citing the fact that Vice President Kamala Harris, as the Democratic presidential nominee, and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, as the Democratic vice presidential nominee, “inappropriately referenced this case in a public speech.”
🚨WOW. A CNN reporter says she spoke to her former federal judge father about the Trump hush money case & he said he would’ve recused himself if he was Judge Merchan—mentions his daughter
This case is so obviously a political hit job ordered by Joe Biden pic.twitter.com/xgZpVLhrDE
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) May 6, 2024
“Sentencing is currently scheduled to occur after the commencement of early voting in the Presidential election,” Blanche wrote. “By adjourning sentencing until after the election — which is of paramount importance to the entire nation, including tens of millions of people who do not share the views of Authentic, its executives, and its clients — the Court would reduce, even if not eliminate, issues regarding the integrity of any future proceedings.”
🚨WOW. A CNN reporter says she spoke to her former federal judge father about the Trump hush money case & he said he would’ve recused himself if he was Judge Merchan—mentions his daughter
This case is so obviously a political hit job ordered by Joe Biden pic.twitter.com/xgZpVLhrDE
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) May 6, 2024
Blanche stressed that there is no need to rush the sentencing hearing unless it is being done for the purpose of interfering in the November election.
“Setting aside naked election-interference objectives, there is no valid countervailing reason for the Court to keep the current sentencing date on the calendar,” Blanche wrote. “There is no basis for continuing to rush. Accordingly, we respectfully request that any sentencing, if one is needed, be adjourned until after the Presidential election.”
Attorneys representing fmr. Pres. Trump in the Hush Money case, ask court to postpone Trump’s sentencing till after the election.
Here’s our live shot explaining why.@ScrippsNews pic.twitter.com/NceA43dp3z
— Ava-joye (@Avajoye) August 15, 2024
