Trump Asks Supreme Court to Block Friday Sentencing in NY/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President-elect Donald Trump has appealed to the Supreme Court to block his Friday sentencing in the New York hush money case. Trump’s lawyers argue the sentencing could harm the presidency and violate his broad immunity from prosecution. The Supreme Court has requested a response from New York prosecutors by Thursday.
Trump’s Supreme Court Appeal: Quick Looks
- Sentencing Challenge: Trump seeks to delay Friday’s sentencing in the hush money case.
- Legal Argument: Lawyers cite presidential immunity to shield evidence used in the trial.
- Supreme Court Request: Prosecutors must respond to Trump’s appeal by Thursday.
- Merchan’s Decision: The sentencing judge indicated no jail time, fines, or probation.
- Broad Immunity Claim: Trump’s team references a prior Supreme Court ruling for protection.
Trump Asks Supreme Court to Block Friday Sentencing in NY Hush Money Case
Deep Look
President-elect Donald Trump has turned to the Supreme Court in an effort to block his scheduled Friday sentencing in a New York hush money case. Trump’s legal team filed the emergency appeal on Wednesday after multiple lower courts declined to delay the proceedings.
Arguments for Blocking Sentencing
Trump’s attorneys argue that proceeding with the sentencing would cause “grave injustice” and damage the presidency as an institution. Citing a prior Supreme Court decision granting Trump broad immunity from criminal prosecution, they claim evidence used in his trial should have been excluded under the protections of presidential immunity.
The Supreme Court has asked New York prosecutors to respond to the request by Thursday.
Details of the Case
The case stems from Trump’s conviction last May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign. These payments were intended to silence claims of an extramarital affair, which Trump has denied.
Despite the conviction, Judge Juan M. Merchan, who presided over the trial, has indicated he does not plan to impose jail time, fines, or probation at sentencing.
Presidential Immunity at Stake
Trump’s legal team is relying on a prior Supreme Court decision that granted sitting presidents broad immunity from prosecution. While that ruling applied to a different case, Trump’s lawyers argue its principles extend to shield him as president-elect.
Merchan has previously rejected this argument, asserting that presidential immunity does not apply to the evidence used in the hush money case.
What’s Next?
The Supreme Court’s decision on whether to grant an immediate stay will be pivotal in determining whether Trump’s sentencing proceeds as scheduled. If the court sides with Trump, it could set a significant precedent regarding the scope of presidential immunity for sitting and incoming presidents.
With just days remaining before his January 20 inauguration, Trump’s legal battle underscores the high stakes and complexity of prosecuting a president-elect.
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