On Wednesday, US President-elect Donald Trump urgently requested the Supreme Court to block his sentencing scheduled for this week, as he continues to appeal his conviction over hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump made the request after a New York State appeals court rejected his bid to delay the proceedings.
Trump was convicted in May for falsifying business records to cover up a payment made to Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. This was intended to prevent her from disclosing an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. Trump is hoping to avoid punishment before his second term begins on January 20. His legal team has made multiple efforts to delay the sentencing, with the judge already indicating no jail time will be imposed.
Trump’s attorneys argued that the ongoing proceedings should be paused to prevent harm to the presidency and federal government. They also raised the issue of presidential immunity, seeking to extend it to a president-elect, but the New York court and Justice Ellen Gesmer dismissed these arguments.
With the sentencing date fast approaching, Trump’s legal team is exploring further avenues to challenge the case, hoping to avoid any consequences before his inauguration. The judge in the case, Juan Merchan, has suggested that Trump may face no conditions, including jail time, following his sentencing. Trump, who was recently confirmed as the winner of the 2024 election, could have faced up to four years in prison if convicted.
