In a new twist to the legal sagas surrounding Donald Trump’s election, Judge Juan Merchan postponed the sentencing of the Manhattan criminal case. Merchan was expected to rule on the issue of presidential immunity last Tuesday, and sentencing would follow the next Tuesday (November 26,)
In May, the jury found that the former/future President was guilty of 34 felonies related to falsified records. In July, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on presidential immunity. Trump’s legal team raised this ruling in a motion filed after the trial.
Merchan, in response to the joint request of Alvin Bragg’s office and Trump’s attorneys for a stay, postponed last Tuesday’s anticipated immunity ruling by a week. Merchan also instructed the prosecution to submit its “view on appropriate steps moving forward” before 10:00 am today.
Now, Judge Merchan has adjourned the scheduled hearing for sentencing without explanation.
On Tuesday, the court adjourned Donald Trump’s sentencing in New York for 34 criminal counts without explanation, giving the presiding Judge more time to decide how to proceed.
The District Attorney Alvin Bragg had been scheduled to make a recommendation on the way forward to Judge Juan Merchan.
Jonathan Turley, a Fox News legal analyst and professor at the George Washington University School of Law, weighed in with his thoughts on the latest news about X. He waxed Shakespearean.
Bloomberg reports that the Manhattan court has once again delayed any decision on the Trump case. Hamlet is the longest-ever performance in history, as Judge Merchan debates whether or not he should be the sentencing judge for the Trump case.
…”To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles.”
The move is a complex one. How long will it take to make a decision? Will Merchan continue to delay this decision indefinitely, with Trump’s inauguration only two months away?
This story is developing. We will continue to monitor the story and provide you with any updates as they become available.
Update:
Bloomberg reports that a docket entry on the New York Supreme Court website early Tuesday appeared to indicate that Judge Juan Merchan was going to postpone sentencing.
The Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office later told Fox News it was an automated alert and not a formal action taken by Merchan. Bragg’s office now has filed a request with the court to formally adjourn the case to give Trump’s legal staff time to file an extra motion to dismiss due to the unique circumstances of the situation, given Trump’s reelection as well as his impending inauguration.
Bragg’s Office intends to object to that motion but asks the court to establish a schedule for the filing of both the motion and the prosecution’s response. Merchan had not yet ruled on the prosecution request as of the time this article was written, but it is likely that the request will be granted. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide an update as soon as it becomes available.
