Judge Postpones Trump’s New York Hush Money Case Following Supreme Court Immunity Ruling

In a letter to prosecutors and defense lawyers on Tuesday, Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over former President Donald Trump’s Manhattan hush-money case, announced he would postpone Trump’s sentencing to Sept. 18, allowing him to consider the potential impact of a Monday U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

The delay comes just a day after a landmark Supreme Court ruling, which grants presidents immunity from criminal prosecution for any  “official” presidential act, significantly impacting Trump’s federal criminal case in Washington, where he is accused of plotting to overturn his 2020 election loss.

On May 30, Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal with porn star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign.

Sentencing was initially scheduled for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention begins on July 15 in Milwaukee, where Trump is expected to secure the party’s nomination.

Although Judge Merchan may not find any basis to overturn the jury’s verdict, as the Supreme Court ruling only protects actions while in office, and much of Trump’s conduct in his hush-money case predates his presidency, Tuesday’s delay marks the first step in Trump’s efforts to overturn his conviction.

Trump’s lawyers sought to overturn the verdict just hours after the Supreme Court’s Monday ruling, writing to Judge Merchan to request permission to file a motion to postpone the verdict and to argue for the conviction’s reversal.

In the letter, Trump’s defense team argued that prosecutors had presented evidence related to Trump’s official actions as president, including social media posts and conversations he had while in the White House.

Under the new ruling, prosecutors cannot charge a president for any official acts, nor can they cite evidence of such acts to support other accusations.

Prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg‘s office dismissed Trump’s argument as unfounded but agreed to delay the sentencing to allow Trump the opportunity to present his case.

“Although we believe the defendant’s arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion,” wrote Joshua Steinglass, one of the assistant district attorneys on Trump’s hush money case.

The Supreme Court’s decision will likely postpone trials for Trump’s other indictments well beyond the November election, as lower courts assess its implications. If Trump is reelected, he is almost certain to instruct the Justice Department to drop the charges against him.