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New York's highest court has denied President-elect Donald Trump's request to postpone his sentencing in the hush money case, leaving the U.S. Supreme Court as his final option to delay the hearing scheduled for Friday (January 10). Trump was convicted in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election.
Trump's legal team argued that the sentencing should be delayed due to his status as president-elect and claimed immunity based on a previous Supreme Court ruling. However, both the New York Court of Appeals and the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, rejected these arguments. Bragg stated that presidential immunity does not apply to actions taken before Trump assumed office.
Despite the conviction, Judge Juan Merchan has indicated that he will not impose jail time, fines, or probation, opting instead for an unconditional discharge. This decision respects Trump's transition efforts as he prepares to be sworn in as president on January 20. Trump's attorneys continue to argue that the sentencing could distract him during this critical period.
Trump's emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was submitted to Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who handles emergency appeals from New York. The outcome remains uncertain, but the case highlights ongoing legal challenges as Trump prepares to return to the presidency.
