A judge has agreed to postpone Donald Trump’s sentencing in the hush money case until after the November election. The new sentencing date is set for November 26, moving it from the originally scheduled September 18—a date just seven weeks before Election Day.
Judge Juan M. Merchan cited the need to avoid any appearance that the proceedings might be influenced by or seek to influence the upcoming presidential election, in which Trump is a candidate.
“The court is a fair, impartial and apolitical institution.” He said. “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,”
Trump’s lawyers had been advocating for a delay for months, arguing that proceeding with sentencing during his campaign could be seen as election interference. They petitioned the judge and sought intervention from the federal court to push back the date.
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said after the ruling that the case should be dismissed altogether…
