Trump Appeals to Supreme Court to Delay Sentencing in Hush Money Conviction

Legal Battle Over Hush Money Case Continues

President-elect Donald Trump has requested the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene and prevent a New York state court from proceeding with his sentencing. The request comes after an appeals court in New York denied his effort to delay the sentencing, scheduled for this Friday.

Seeking Relief from Presidential Immunity Ruling

Trump’s legal team argues that the Supreme Court should grant an immediate stay while it considers broader questions of presidential immunity. This appeal stems from an earlier ruling by the Supreme Court. His lawyers have also asked for a temporary “administrative stay” to pause proceedings while the court reviews the request.

Conviction and Legal History

Trump was convicted by a New York jury for covering up a $130,000 payment made by his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The payment was intended to keep Daniels quiet about an alleged affair with Trump before the 2016 election, which Trump denies. This case marked Trump as the first sitting or former U.S. president to face criminal charges and be convicted.

Efforts to Avoid Jail Time

Despite the conviction, Justice Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case, has suggested he is unlikely to sentence Trump to jail. Instead, Merchan has indicated he may grant an “unconditional discharge,” which would place a judgment of guilt on Trump’s record without imposing penalties such as custody, fines, or probation.

Unsuccessful Attempts to Dismiss the Case

Since the conviction, Trump’s legal team has made two unsuccessful attempts to have the case thrown out. The legal team continues to challenge the charges as they pursue their efforts to halt the sentencing.