In a significant ruling, the US Supreme Court has turned down President-elect Donald Trump's final attempt to postpone his sentencing in the criminal hush-money case. The decision, delivered on Thursday evening, was split 5-4 against Trump's request for an automatic stay of his sentencing, slated for Friday.

 

The case stems from Trump's conviction for falsifying records to mask reimbursements for a $130,000 payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016, disguised as legal expenses.

 

Justice Juan Merchan, who has been overseeing the case, indicated he would not consider a prison sentence for Trump. Reacting to the Supreme Court's decision, Trump called the case a "disgrace" but acknowledged that the ruling was "a fair decision, actually."

 

Referring to Justice Merchan, Trump commented, "It's a judge that shouldn't have been on the case," and added, "they can have fun with their political opponent." Later, on his Truth Social platform, Trump dismissed the case as "the pathetic, dying remnants of the Witch Hunts against me" and vowed it would not distract him.

 

In a rare alignment, two conservative justices—John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett—joined the three liberal justices in denying Trump’s request for a delay. The dissenting justices, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh, were in favor of granting Trump's petition.

 

The decision comes amid controversy surrounding Justice Alito, who had a phone call with Trump the day before the ruling, during which Alito recommended a former law clerk for a position in Trump's incoming administration.

 

Prior to the Supreme Court's ruling, three lower New York courts had already dismissed Trump's efforts to delay the sentencing. The justices concluded that Trump’s concerns could be addressed during an appeal and that the burden of attending a sentencing was "insubstantial."

 

Trump's legal team also sought to have the Supreme Court consider whether a president-elect is immune from criminal prosecution. However, Manhattan prosecutors countered that there was a "compelling public interest" in holding the sentencing as planned and argued against any intervention.

 

Following Trump's guilty verdict in May 2024, his sentencing was initially scheduled for July. However, Trump’s lawyers managed to secure three postponements from Justice Merchan. Last week, Justice Merchan declared that the sentencing would proceed on January 10, just days before Trump's inauguration.

 

In a flurry of legal maneuvers, Trump’s attorneys filed multiple appeals to delay the sentencing. But New York courts consistently rejected these bids, leading to the final appeal to the Supreme Court on Wednesday. Trump’s legal team argued that a stay was necessary "to prevent grave injustice and harm to the institution of the Presidency and the operations of the federal government," but their plea was ultimately denied.

 

Based on a report by BBC 2024-01-10

 

 

It was rightfully rejected. After January 20 he is president and Trump himself appealed for the sentencing to be held after the election. So no wiggle room there anymore.

Defeated by his own delaying strategy and by the original SCOTUS ruling itself. Even  the 2 biased justices could not help him.

Amy Coney Barrett has definitely turned out to be an interesting appointment!  I bet Trump is seething.   Is she the youngest Justice?  She will be around for a long time!

Good now start taking his property’s unless he pays up with back interest!

He got a deal no other convicted felon could ever hope to get (NO punishment!) and that still wasn't good enough for him.

SCOTUS did the right thing. This time.

He still may appeal the convictions. 

Never heard or seen so much misinformation. Everywhere says Trump was convicted for covering up hush money payments to an adult entertainer.

 

Absolute BS. That was a long expired misdemeanor. Nobody in the world knows what the reason the expired misdemeanor was jacked up to 34 felonies because it wasnt stated in court, and he had no chance to defend against this unknown crime.

 

The real victim here is the US justice system.