Prosecutors may delay Trump’s sentencing in hush money case - Axios
Photo: US President-elect Donald Trump (Getty Images)
New York prosecutors are prepared to delay sentencing in the case involving Donald Trump and hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, even if it means waiting until 2029, when the Republican's second presidential term ends, according to Axios.
This statement marks the latest effort by prosecutors to continue their investigation into Trump after Judge Juan Merchan postponed the sentencing in this case to November 26.
Meanwhile, the Republican’s attorneys urged Merchan to dismiss the case "to facilitate the orderly transition of executive power."
If the judge dismisses the case, it would be a significant victory for Trump, who would become the first president to avoid potential imprisonment and secure a second term in the White House. Axios noted that Trump faces charges in three other cases, all of which have either been frozen or derailed over the past few months.
In their statement, New York prosecutors acknowledged that it is necessary to consider the possibility of halting the case until the end of Trump's second term. They also noted that they are "mindful of the demands and obligations of the presidency" and recognize that Trump's return to the White House raises "unprecedented legal questions."
However, they stressed their opposition to attempts to close the case fully, which Trump’s legal team has called for.
On Tuesday, Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, stated that the "lawless case is now stayed," praising the "total and definitive victory for President Trump." However, as Axios reports, no decision has yet been made regarding further actions in this case.
Axios notes that Trump’s potential victory in the 2024 presidential election, as well as a Supreme Court decision earlier this summer affirming that presidents have immunity for official acts while in office, have altered the future of criminal cases against him.
In May, Trump was found guilty on 34 counts in New York for falsifying business records related to the payment of hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in 2016, stemming from an alleged sexual encounter. Trump denies all wrongdoing.
