Former US President Donald Trump, who was convicted of felony charges, will have his sentencing delayed until at least September, following a ruling by the US Supreme Court granting presidents broad criminal immunity for official acts. Trump’s legal team requested the delay to build a case for overturning his conviction on 34 felony charges related to hush money payments made to an adult actress. Prosecutors argued that Trump falsified business records to cover up payments made to Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence on an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. Trump’s lawyers cited the Supreme Court ruling to argue that evidence related to Trump’s actions as president should be protected under presidential immunity. However, the ruling does not offer immunity for acts outside of a president’s core constitutional powers.
The delay in sentencing could have political implications for Trump, who faces three additional criminal trials related to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. The New York trial, which was expected to finish before the election, could impact Trump’s support among voters. Additionally, President Joe Biden’s campaign has faced criticism following a lackluster performance in the first presidential debate against Trump. Despite calls for Biden to end his re-election bid, he has indicated no intention of dropping out of the race. Biden is set to meet with Democratic governors and hold a news conference during a NATO conference to address concerns about his campaign. Trump’s sentencing delay and the ongoing legal battles add a layer of complexity to the political landscape ahead of the upcoming elections.
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