Trump Sentencing to Proceed: Judge Rejects Postponement Request
WASHINGTON – A New York judge has rejected former President Donald Trump’s request to postpone his sentencing in the "hush money" case, scheduled for January 10. Trump’s lawyers had argued that the case should be dismissed, citing his 2024 presidential election victory. However, Judge Juan Merchan declined the request, stating that the case would proceed as planned.
In a two-page order, Judge Merchan explained, "The Court has considered the arguments raised in the defendant’s motion. Many of these arguments have been raised in prior proceedings, and the Court has addressed them at length. The sentencing scheduled for January 10, 2025, including the announcement of a sentence, will proceed as currently scheduled."
Trump is expected to appear in court this coming Friday, either in person or virtually. Although the possibility of jail time exists, with a maximum potential sentence of four years for the felony charge, legal experts suggest that as a recently elected president, Trump may receive a lighter sentence. However, should the case proceed to trial, Trump would become the first U.S. president to face criminal charges in history.
The case involves allegations that Trump, through his former lawyer Michael Cohen, paid $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair from 2006. Trump maintains that the payment was a personal matter and not a campaign expense. Daniels has stated that she received the payment in 2016, during Trump’s presidential campaign.
Trump’s team had argued that the case should be dismissed, citing his recent election victory and the start of his term on January 20. However, Judge Merchan found no merit in these arguments, stating that the case would continue towards sentencing.
This is a setback for Trump, who has faced several legal challenges since leaving office in 2021. The hush money case is one of several legal issues he is currently facing, including a separate federal investigation related to his handling of classified documents and his role in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
