Donald Trump asks judge to delay sentencing in hush money case until after November election
Donald Trump is asking the judge in his New York hush money criminal case to delay his sentencing until after the November presidential election.
In a letter made public Thursday, a lawyer for the former president and current Republican nominee suggested that sentencing Trump as scheduled on Sept. 18 — about seven weeks before Election Day — would amount to election interference.
Trump lawyer Todd Blanche wrote that a delay would also allow Trump time to weigh next steps after the trial judge, Juan M. Merchan, is expected to rule Sept. 16 on the defense's request to overturn the verdict and dismiss the case because of the U.S. Supreme Court's July presidential immunity ruling.
«There is no basis for continuing to rush,» Blanche wrote.
Blanche sent the letter to Merchan on Wednesday after the judge rejected the defense's latest request that he step aside from the case.
In the letter, Blanche reiterated the defense argument that the judge has a conflict of interest because his daughter works as a Democratic political consultant, including for Kamala Harris when she sought the 2020 presidential nomination. Harris is now running against Trump.
By adjourning the sentencing until after that election, «the Court would reduce, even if not eliminate, issues regarding the integrity of any future proceedings,» Blanche wrote.
Election Day is Nov. 5, but many states allow voters to cast ballots early, with some set to start the process just a few days before or after Trump's scheduled Sept. 18 sentencing date.
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