The sentencing of President-elect Donald Trump in the criminal hush money case has been delayed indefinitely, a significant legal victory for Trump as he readies to return to the White House in January. Judge Juan Merchan granted the delay, citing ongoing legal challenges and a landmark Supreme Court ruling that could influence the case.
Trump, who was convicted in May of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records to conceal an alleged sexual encounter with adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign, had faced sentencing on Nov. 26. However, his legal team successfully argued for a postponement based on the Supreme Court’s July decision affirming sweeping immunity for sitting presidents in matters tied to their official duties.
In his ruling, Judge Merchan stated, “The joint application for a stay of sentencing is granted to the extent that the November 26, 2024 date is adjourned.” The judge’s decision leaves the door open for Trump’s lawyers to pursue an outright dismissal of the conviction, potentially initiating additional hearings.
Trump’s legal team framed the delay as a direct consequence of the Supreme Court’s ruling, which they argued supports broad presidential immunity and casts doubt on the legitimacy of proceeding with the case against Trump while he prepares to assume office.
“In a decisive win for President Trump, the hoax Manhattan case is now fully stayed and sentencing is adjourned,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, in a statement. “The American people have issued a mandate to return him to office and dispose of all remnants of the Witch Hunt cases.”
The hush money case stems from allegations that Trump orchestrated payments to Daniels to prevent her from publicizing claims of an affair in the run-up to the 2016 election. Prosecutors argued that the payments, disguised as legal fees, were intended to influence the election outcome by concealing damaging information from voters.
A Manhattan jury in May 2024 found Trump guilty on all counts, marking a historic conviction of a former U.S. president. Prosecutors had pushed for a swift sentencing, but Trump’s unexpected victory in the 2024 election injected a new level of complexity into the proceedings.
New York state prosecutors have resisted efforts to delay or overturn the case, asserting that the jury’s verdict must stand despite Trump’s electoral win. In court filings, prosecutors acknowledged the “unprecedented circumstances” but emphasized the importance of balancing the verdict with the political implications of Trump’s return to office.
Ahead of Friday’s ruling, Trump’s legal team submitted motions citing the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling as grounds to dismiss the case. Prosecutors countered that the ruling does not apply retroactively to acts committed before Trump assumed the presidency in 2017, nor to personal acts unrelated to official duties.
Judge Merchan’s decision to stay the sentencing now shifts focus to potential hearings that could examine these arguments in greater detail, but legal experts predict delays once Trump is inaugurated in January.
Trump’s legal entanglements extend beyond the hush money case. He faces two active federal investigations:
Election Interference Case: Special Counsel Jack Smith is investigating Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. In recent filings, Smith sought to vacate key deadlines, effectively pausing the case without formally dropping it. The delay aligns with longstanding Justice Department policy barring the prosecution of sitting presidents.
Classified Documents Case: This case, centered on allegations that Trump mishandled sensitive government records after leaving office in 2021, was recently dismissed by a Trump-appointed federal judge. However, Smith has indicated plans to appeal.
As president, Trump would hold significant authority to influence or terminate these cases. His legal team has suggested that they may pursue executive actions to resolve the matters if they remain unresolved by January.
The delay in the hush money sentencing underscores the collision of Trump’s political resurgence with ongoing legal battles. For Trump, the ruling serves as a rallying cry for his narrative of political persecution. He has consistently labeled the hush money case a “witch hunt,” a phrase he employed frequently during his prior presidency.
“This is another victory for President Trump against the endless attacks from partisan prosecutors,” a senior Trump campaign adviser said following the decision. “The American people see through these efforts to undermine their choice for president.”
Legal scholars, however, warn that the implications of Friday’s ruling could extend far beyond Trump’s personal fortunes. The case highlights unresolved tensions between the legal accountability of public officials and the constitutional privileges granted to presidents.
The Supreme Court ruling at the heart of Trump’s legal argument was issued in July 2024 in a separate case involving presidential immunity. The court held that sitting presidents are shielded from civil and criminal liability for official actions during their term. Trump’s lawyers have sought to expand the interpretation to argue for immunity for actions taken while campaigning.
While some legal experts see this as a stretch, others suggest the issue could reach the Supreme Court again if lower courts fail to resolve the matter.
With sentencing adjourned indefinitely, the Manhattan case faces an uncertain timeline. Legal analysts predict a protracted battle over Trump’s motion to dismiss the conviction entirely. Hearings on the matter could spill into early 2025, testing the judicial system’s capacity to handle high-profile cases involving a sitting president. For now, Trump’s victory in securing a delay provides breathing room as he transitions from candidate to president-elect. Whether it marks the beginning of broader legal exoneration or a temporary reprieve remains to be seen.
