The verdict in the hush-money trial of former U.S. President Donald Trump will not be announced until after the presidential election. At Trump’s request, the New York judge in charge has postponed the originally scheduled date of September 18 to Friday, November 26, according to a court document.
This means that it will not be clear before the November 5 election whether Trump will be sentenced to a fine, prison or probation.
Trump had argued that a ruling just weeks before the Nov. 5 election could undermine the integrity of the vote. In addition, the 78-year-old’s lawyers wrote that the judge’s expected decision on another request involving Trump’s alleged immunity would not allow enough time for an appeal. Merchan had originally set that decision for Sept. 16 — two days before the verdict was announced. Merchan has now set a new date for that decision for Nov. 12.
The delay means that Americans will most likely go to the polls in early November without knowing whether Trump, already convicted, will go to prison or not. In the event of his victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, the determination of the sentence could be further delayed. In the worst case, Trump risks a prison sentence of several years. However, some observers believe that a probation interpretation is more likely.
Jurors in New York found the ex-president guilty in late May on 34 charges. The trial involved illegally concealing hush-money payments to a porn actress to gain advantages in the 2016 election campaign. It was the first time in U.S. history that a former president has been convicted of a crime.
Trump has thus succeeded in delaying a sentence that could potentially harm him in the election. He had previously achieved something similar based on a success at the US Supreme Court: the highest US court recently ruled that Trump does not enjoy complete immunity for actions during his time as president, but that he does enjoy broad protection from criminal prosecution. This also had consequences for other ongoing proceedings against Trump.
The New York hush-money case, however, is different and centers largely on Trump’s actions as a presidential candidate before the 2016 election. Trump had previously failed to argue that the case had implications for his presidency.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
