Judge delays Donald Trump sentencing in hush money case until after US election

A US judge has agreed to postpone the sentencing of former president Donald Trump for his hush money conviction until after the November election.

The decision grants the Republican nominee a hard-won reprieve as he navigates the aftermath of his criminal conviction and the homestretch of his presidential campaign.

Manhattan Judge Juan M Merchan, who is also considering a request from the defence to overturn the verdict on immunity grounds, delayed Mr Trump’s sentencing until November 26, several weeks after the final votes are cast in the presidential election.

It had initially been scheduled for September 18.

Mr Trump’s lawyers pushed for the delay on multiple fronts, petitioning the judge and asking a federal court to intervene. They argued that punishing the former president and current Republican nominee in the thick of his campaign to retake the White House would amount to election interference.

Mr Trump’s lawyers argued that delaying his sentencing until after the election would also allow him time to consider next steps after Mr Merchan rules on the defence’s request to reverse his conviction and dismiss the case because of the US Supreme Court’s July presidential immunity ruling.

The sentencing of the former president will come several weeks after the final votes are cast in the November election (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah) PA Media

In his order Friday, Mr Merchan delayed a decision on that until November 12.

A federal judge on Tuesday rejected Mr Trump’s request to have the US District Court in Manhattan seize the case from Mr Merchan’s state court.

Had they been successful, Mr Trump’s lawyers said they would have then sought to have the verdict overturned and the case dismissed on immunity grounds.

Mr Trump is appealing the federal court ruling.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which prosecuted Mr Trump’s case, deferred to Mr Merchan and did not take a position on the defence’s request to delay.

The agreement on the sentencing comes after Mr Trump was back in court to fight to overturn a verdict finding the former president liable for sexual abuse and defamation.

President Donald Trump, right, and E. Jean Carroll, second from right, listen during arguments by the defense in Manhattan federal court, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (Jane Rosenberg via AP) PA Media

His lawyer D John Sauer told a three-judge panel that the civil trial in a lawsuit brought by writer E Jean Carroll was muddied by improper evidence.

Mr Sauer noted that the jury was allowed to consider such items as the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape in which Mr Trump boasted years ago about grabbing women’s genitals.

Ms Carroll says that Mr Trump attacked her in a department store dressing room in 1996.

He denies it but a jury awarded Carroll $5m (£3.8m).

The appeals judges have yet to rule.