Trump sentencing in hush-money case delayed until September after Supreme Court ruling
Lawyers have agreed to let Trump push back his sentencing to September 18
Reuters
Donald Trump's upcoming sentencing for his hush-money felony convictions has been delayed until September after the ex-President asked for a chance to argue he should have been immune from prosecution.
The former Commander-in-Chief's court date had previously been set for July 11 - just days before the Republican National Convention kicks off in Milwaukee on July 15.
But in the wake of the historic US Supreme Court ruling that confirmed him to be partially immune from prosecution for his actions as President, lawyers have agreed to let Trump push back his sentencing to September 18.
Just yesterday, the Supreme Court had ruled Presidents and former Presidents received immunity for "official acts", or actions taken within their "conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority".
Trump will receive the chance to make his case
Reuters
But crucially, Trump is not immune from prosecution for "unofficial acts" - essentially, anything the ex-Commander-in-Chief has done privately "out of office", so to speak.
As a result, "The Donald", as his supporters know him, will face an uphill battle to overturn the hush money conviction - since much of the conduct at issue in the case predated his time in office.
Trump's lawyers asked Justice Juan Merchan to let them argue his conviction in New York state court in Manhattan should be overturned with respect to the immunity ruling.
And though prosecutors with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office said Trump's argument was "without merit," they agreed to delay the sentencing to give Trump the chance to make his case.
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"The Donald" will face an uphill battle to overturn the hush money conviction
Reuters
On May 30, a Manhattan jury found the 45th President guilty of falsifying business records to cover up his former lawyer Michael Cohen's $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to stay quiet about an alleged 2006 sexual encounter until after the 2016 election.
Prosecutors said the payment was part of an illicit scheme to influence the election.
Trump denies having had sex with Daniels and has vowed to appeal the conviction after his sentencing.
In their letter to Merchan, defence lawyers argued that prosecutors had presented evidence involving Trump's official acts as President, including social media posts he made and conversations he had while in the White House.
Trump is not immune from prosecution for "unofficial acts"
Reuters
Under the Supreme Court's ruling, prosecutors cannot use evidence related to official actions to help prove criminal cases involving unofficial actions.
And eight years on from his historic 2016 win, Trump will go head-to-head against incumbent Joe Biden - barring an extraordinary drop-out at the Democratic National Convention in August - for the chance to take high office once again.
The former head of state will be looking to make history by becoming only the second President to serve two non-consecutive terms in the Oval Office.
If he regains the role, Trump could try to force an end to federal charges for his role in the January 6 chaos, and state charges for keeping classified documents after he left office - as well as potentially pardon himself for any federal crimes.