New York judge delays Donald Trump sentencing until after US election
Trump in his New York hush money trial was delayed Friday until after November's election, a win for the Republican as he battles Democrat Kamala Harris in the knife-edge White House race.
The former US president had been scheduled to be sentenced on September 18 for falsifying business records in a scheme to silence a porn star's politically damaging story.
But Judge Juan Merchan postponed it to November 26 — three weeks past the November 5 election, as requested by Trump's lawyers.
«This is not a decision this Court makes lightly but it is the decision which in this Court's view, best advances the interests of justice,» he wrote in his decision.
The postponement comes as Trump and Harris prepare to face off on the debate stage next Tuesday in the already extraordinary presidential race.
Trump welcomed the sentencing delay, taking to his Truth Social platform to blast the case as a «witch hunt.»
«This case should be rightfully terminated,» he added, «as we prepare for the Most Important Election in the History of our Country.»
— 'Politically prejudicial' -
Trump, 78, was convicted in May of 34 counts of doctoring business records to cover up hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels to stop her from disclosing an alleged sexual encounter on the eve of the 2016 election.
The twice-impeached ex-president was originally scheduled to be sentenced on July 11.
However, that was delayed after the US Supreme Court ruled that a former president has broad immunity from criminal prosecutions.
Trump's lawyers
