Supreme Court Tosses Missouri Bid To Delay Trump Sentencing

The long-shot lawsuit to block Donald Trump’s sentencing from his New York hush money trial was rejected by the United States Supreme Court on Monday.

The lawsuit was filed by Andrew Bailey, the Republican attorney general of Missouri. It has been speculated that this filing was more of a political stunt than a serious action taken by the Trump sympathizer and Republican. Alaska, Iowa, Florida, and Montana, all states with GOP attorneys, backed the suit.

These requests, both of which were unusual, were rejected by the Supreme Court, and the gag order and original sentencing date will remain. These motions were in the form of a lawsuit. The Third Article of the Constitution provides that the Supreme Court has jurisdiction over suits between states, allowing for the High Court to hear the dispute without it working its way through lower courts.

The request was denied with no explanation, though Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito indicated that they would permit the filing of a formal complaint with their court, though they “would not grant other relief.”

Following the decision, in a statement on social media, Bailey wrote, “It’s disappointing that the Supreme Court refused to exercise its constitutional responsibility to resolve state v. state disputes.”

Trump became the first US president to be convicted of a felony after a Manhattan jury found the former president guilty on all 34 felony charges in May, with the sentencing set for September 18. However, last month, General Bailey of Missouri filed motions requesting that the Supreme Court not only lift the gag order on the case but also postpone the sentencing until after the election.

The former president faces up to four years in prison, though many say other outcomes such as probation or fines are more likely.