Former President Donald Trump will not face criminal sentencing in New York for his state felony convictions ahead of the November election, a decision made by New York Judge Juan Merchan. The sentencing date has been rescheduled to November 26. The judge cited complexities surrounding the upcoming election and the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity as reasons for the delay. Trump celebrated the delay on his Truth Social platform, claiming there was no case against him.
Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records in May, becoming the first former president to be a felon. He asked the New York court to delay his sentencing until after the 2024 election, arguing that the question of presidential immunity remained unresolved. This decision marks the second time Merchan has delayed Trump’s sentencing.
Trump’s legal team argued that the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity negated his state convictions, but Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg disagreed. Trump has also escalated a separate federal criminal case alleging 2020 election interference to the Supreme Court, claiming immunity for any charges stemming from his time in office. The federal case has been returned to trial court, extending beyond the upcoming election. Despite the legal battles, Trump is vying for the Republican nomination for the presidency once again.
The case has drawn attention due to its potential impact on Trump’s political ambitions and the interpretation of presidential immunity in criminal cases. The delayed sentencing in New York adds another layer of uncertainty to Trump’s legal challenges.
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