Sentencing in Donald Trump’s criminal case regarding the hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels has been delayed indefinitely.
Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case, made the decision without setting a new date for sentencing.
This marks the third delay in the case since Trump was convicted of fraudulently altering business records to conceal the payment made to Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 election.
Prosecutors argue that the concealment was part of a broader scheme to help Trump secure his presidential victory.
Originally scheduled for November 26, Trump had requested the delay until after he returns to the White House in January.
Judge Merchan agreed to the request, postponing the sentencing and granting Trump’s legal team time to file a motion by December 2 to dismiss the case entirely.
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The defense argues that Trump’s election as president should nullify the charges, but Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office firmly opposes any dismissal.
In May, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts related to his role in the cover-up of the $130,000 payment to Daniels, which was made by his former lawyer, Michael Cohen.
The jury found that Trump had signed off on a plan to hide the reimbursement for the payment, which Daniels and Cohen say was meant to silence Daniels about a sexual encounter with Trump.
Despite his conviction, Trump continues to deny any wrongdoing, insisting he did not falsify business records and denying Daniels’ allegations.