The U.S. Supreme Court has denied President-elect Donald Trump’s last-minute attempt to postpone his sentencing in a criminal case involving hush-money payments. In a 5-4 decision, the justices rejected Trump’s appeal, clearing the way for his sentencing to proceed on Friday.
Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records to conceal $130,000 in payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. The payments were disguised as legal expenses. Despite the guilty verdict, Justice Juan Merchan, who presided over the case, has stated that a jail term for Trump is not under consideration.
Reacting to the ruling, Trump criticized the case, calling it a “disgrace,” but acknowledged the Supreme Court’s decision as “fair.” He also targeted Justice Merchan, stating, “It’s a judge that shouldn’t have been on the case,” and accused the judiciary of playing politics with him as an opponent.
Supreme Court Split
Two conservative justices, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, joined the court’s three liberal justices in rejecting Trump’s appeal. The remaining four conservative justices—Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh—voted to grant the delay.
The decision follows controversy over Justice Alito, who reportedly spoke with Trump by phone a day before the ruling. During the call, Alito is said to have recommended one of his former clerks for a role in Trump’s incoming administration, raising ethical concerns.
Legal Challenges Rejected
Before the Supreme Court’s ruling, three lower courts in New York had also denied Trump’s attempts to delay his sentencing. The justices argued that Trump’s concerns could be addressed through an appeal process and dismissed his claim that attending the sentencing would pose a significant burden.
Manhattan prosecutors, in their response to Trump’s petition, emphasized the importance of moving forward with sentencing, citing a “compelling public interest” and rejecting Trump’s argument that presidents-elect are immune from criminal prosecution.
The court’s decision comes after a prolonged legal battle. Following Trump’s guilty verdict in May 2024, sentencing was initially scheduled for July. However, Trump’s legal team successfully delayed the process three times. Last week, Justice Merchan announced that sentencing would proceed on January 10, just days before Trump’s inauguration for a second term as president.
Broader Implications of Immunity
Trump’s attorneys argued that the protections of presidential immunity, which the Supreme Court upheld last year for actions taken while in office, should also extend to a president-elect. This claim was dismissed by Manhattan prosecutors, who stated, “It is axiomatic that there is only one President at a time.”
Former public officials and legal experts also submitted a brief to the Supreme Court, urging it to reject what they described as Trump’s “attempt to avoid accountability.”
Separate Legal Developments
In a related legal setback on Thursday, a federal appeals court in Georgia denied Trump’s effort to block the release of part of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report. The report focuses on Trump’s alleged attempts to prevent the transfer of power to Joe Biden following the 2020 election. Lawyers for Walt Nauta, Trump’s former aide, and Carlos de Oliveira, a Mar-a-Lago property manager, argued the release could unfairly influence future criminal proceedings against them.
As Trump prepares for his inauguration amid mounting legal challenges, Friday’s sentencing will serve as a critical moment in a case that has drawn intense national and international scrutiny.
SOURCE: BBC
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