Trump’s Legal Team Seeks to Halt Sentencing in Hush Money Case
As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office for his second non-consecutive term, his legal team is working to block his scheduled sentencing in a New York criminal hush money case. The motion, made public on Monday, argues that the appeal of the ruling denying their efforts to dismiss the case should automatically stay the sentencing, set for Friday.
A Complex Legal Battle
Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in May, related to a 2016 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the presidential election. The case has been ongoing for months, with Trump’s lawyers arguing that the charges should be dismissed due to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity.
Judge’s Ruling Sparks Controversy
Last week, Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan rejected Trump’s lawyers’ arguments, stating that he was not inclined to sentence Trump to jail and would impose a sentence without probation or a fine. Trump’s legal team is now appealing this ruling, citing the Supreme Court’s decision and the New York state constitution.
A Statement from Trump’s Spokesman
In response to the motion, Trump’s spokesman Steven Cheung released a statement, saying, “Today, President Trump’s legal team moved to stop the unlawful sentencing in the Manhattan D.A.’s Witch Hunt.” Cheung argued that the Supreme Court’s decision and established legal precedent mandate that the case be dismissed.
What’s Next?
The appeal process could take months to resolve, leaving Trump’s sentencing in limbo. As the president-elect prepares to take office, his legal team will continue to fight to have the case dismissed. The outcome of this legal battle remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: it will be a closely watched and highly contentious issue in the coming months.
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