In a surprising turn of events, Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the criminal prosecution of former President Donald Trump, has decided to delay Trump's sentencing hearing until after the 2024 election.
This decision was announced on Friday, with the judge stating that he will postpone his decision on Trump's jail term until November 26, 2024, three weeks after Election Day. Trump, who was found guilty of 34 counts of bookkeeping fraud, faces a potential 136 years in prison.
According to The Federalist, the case against Trump was initiated by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who accused the former president of violating the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA). This accusation stemmed from a payment made by Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen, to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, allegedly to silence her about a supposed affair. Despite nondisclosure agreements like Trump's being legal and not typically meeting the criteria for criminal charges beyond a misdemeanor, Bragg pursued a felony prosecution.
Bragg's case against Trump has been criticized by several legal experts and media figures, who have suggested that it is weak and politically motivated. Merchan's decision to delay Trump's sentencing has only added fuel to these suspicions. Initially, the judge planned to sentence Trump just before the Republican National Convention in July, but this was later moved to September 18. Now, with this latest ruling, it is clear that the sentencing date is once again in flux.
Merchan, who has been accused of demonstrating a "rabid pro-Democrat bias" in his handling of the Trump case, defended his decision to delay the sentencing. He stated that he was responding to requests from Trump's lawyers and emphasized that the court is a "fair, impartial and apolitical institution." He wrote, "The imposition of sentence will be adjourned to avoid any appearance however unwarranted that the proceeding has been affected by or seeks to affect the approaching Presidential election in which the Defendant is a candidate."
The decision to delay Trump's sentencing could potentially be influenced by the former president's political and financial momentum, which has been boosted by his various convictions and a survived assassination attempt in July. Some speculate that the judge, who is seen as highly partisan, may be attempting to prevent Trump from becoming a political martyr.
Meanwhile, Washington D.C. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who recently dismissed the Supreme Courts presidential immunity ruling, has also indicated that the criminal trial related to Special Counsel Jack Smiths January 6 indictment of Trump is unlikely to occur for "months."
Recent polls suggest that the Democrats' strategy of using legal indictments against their political opponent ahead of the presidential election in November has backfired significantly. The delay in Trump's sentencing, therefore, raises questions about the potential impact on the upcoming election and the future of the former president's political career.
Login