Manhattan prosecutors have opposed former President Donald Trump's request to delay post-trial decisions in his New York hush money criminal case. Trump is seeking to have a federal court intervene and potentially overturn his felony conviction. The prosecutors indicated they might be open to postponing Trump's sentencing, which is currently scheduled for September 18.
The Manhattan district attorney's office argued that there is no legal obligation to hold off on post-trial decisions after Trump's request to transfer the case to federal court. They urged the trial judge not to delay rulings on two key defense requests: delaying sentencing until after the November election and overturning the verdict based on the U.S. Supreme Court's presidential immunity ruling.
Trump was convicted in May on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. The sentencing for falsifying business records carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison, probation, or a fine.
Prosecutors have not taken a stance on delaying sentencing, leaving it to the judge to determine an appropriate post-trial schedule. Trump's lawyers argue that delaying sentencing is necessary to allow time for potential appeals if the verdict is upheld.
Trump's legal team contends that sentencing him close to the election could be seen as election interference, as it might impact early voting. They are seeking to have the federal court review the case, citing violations of Trump's constitutional rights and the Supreme Court's immunity ruling for ex-presidents.
The Supreme Court's ruling limits prosecutions of former presidents for official acts and restricts the use of official acts as evidence of unofficial actions being illegal. Trump's lawyers claim that prosecutors rushed to trial before the immunity decision and presented evidence that should not have been allowed under the ruling.
Trump's lawyers previously invoked presidential immunity in an unsuccessful attempt to move the case to federal court last year. The federal court recently returned Trump's request due to technical issues, giving his legal team an opportunity to resubmit it.
