Trump's verdict on paying money to porn star postpones until after elections
US presidential candidate Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
A New York judge has postponed the sentencing of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump until after the elections. The case involves a hush money payment to a porn star, reports Reuters.
On Friday, September 6, Judge Juan Merchan stated in a published document that he wishes to avoid any appearance of political bias. Therefore, he plans to postpone Donald Trump's sentencing from September 18 to November 26, following the US presidential election, provided the case is not dismissed by that time.
"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 Court is a fair, impartial and apolitical institution," the judge noted.
What preceded this
On May 30, 2024, Trump was found guilty on 34 counts in the first-ever criminal trial of a former or current US president.
He was accused of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment made by his lawyer to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. The payment was related to her silence about an alleged sexual encounter that Daniels claimed occurred a decade ago.
The sentencing for this case was initially set for September 18. However, in August, Trump's attorneys requested Judge Juan Merchan to delay the sentencing until after the election, citing potential interference with the electoral process.
Additionally, Reuters reminded that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the charges against Trump, is a representative of the Democratic Party.
Trump and Harris debate
On Tuesday, September 10, debates are scheduled between Donald Trump and his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris. Recently, ABC has finalized the rules for this debate.
Allies of Trump have expressed concerns that the debate might not go in his favor.
