Trump’s Hush-Money Case Delayed as Judge Considers Immunity Defense

Tuesday 12 November 2024 - 16:29

The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s criminal case in Manhattan regarding hush-money payments has delayed his ruling on whether to dismiss the conviction based on presidential immunity. Judge Juan Merchan informed Trump’s legal team on Tuesday that he would postpone his decision until November 19, following a joint request for more time from both the defense and prosecutors.

This latest delay is part of a series of postponements in Trump’s case. Earlier this year, he was convicted on 34 felony charges related to falsifying business records in an attempt to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. The conviction followed an expedited trial, with a jury deliberating for less than 12 hours. This historic trial marked the first-ever criminal case against a sitting or former U.S. president, and the guilty verdict was seen as a significant blow to Trump, who was the Republican frontrunner at the time.

Following the verdict, Biden's campaign issued a statement emphasizing that "no one is above the law," highlighting the notion that Trump had believed he could avoid consequences for his actions.

The prosecution argued that Trump falsely categorized a $130,000 payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels as “legal expenses,” a transaction aimed at silencing her over an alleged affair. This payment was later linked to a violation of New York state election laws, as it was deemed an illegal contribution to Trump’s 2016 campaign, exceeding the $2,700 individual contribution limit.

Despite the legal challenges, Trump’s support remained strong throughout the trial, and he secured the Republican nomination, ultimately winning the election against Kamala Harris on November 5.

Trump had been set to be sentenced on July 10, but following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in early July granting presidents broad immunity for actions taken while in office, his legal team sought a delay, citing this new precedent. Judge Merchan delayed proceedings several times, with a final sentencing date moved to November 26, after the election, in an effort to avoid any potential appearance of influencing the race.

Trump’s lawyers continue to argue for the dismissal of the case, citing both the Supreme Court decision and what they believe to be strong legal grounds. The ongoing legal battles have also had an impact on Trump’s other cases, including federal investigations into election interference and the handling of classified documents. The state-level election case in Georgia has been paused, pending an appeal, and could face significant delays due to complications surrounding the prosecutor’s conduct.

As these legal proceedings continue, the outcome of Trump’s various criminal cases remains uncertain, with future developments likely to unfold well into 2029.