President-elect Donald Trump has failed in his emergency attempt to delay a sentencing hearing related to the Manhattan “hush money” case, as ruled on Tuesday.
Trump’s legal team, representing the 78-year-old former president, filed a lengthy 502-page petition with the First Judicial Department appellate court, hoping to prevent the sentencing, which was scheduled for January 10, just ten days before his upcoming second presidential inauguration.
However, after brief arguments from both Trump’s attorneys and prosecutors in the Manhattan courthouse, Associate Justice Ellen Gesmer issued a decision rejecting the request for a postponement.
“After consideration of the papers submitted and the extensive oral argument, movant’s application for an interim stay is denied,” Gesmer wrote in her succinct order.
Earlier, on Monday, Judge Juan Merchan had denied Trump’s request to delay the hearing based on claims of presidential immunity, confirming that the hearing would proceed on Friday.
The former real estate tycoon-turned-politician was found guilty of 34 felony counts related to efforts to suppress information about payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Judge Merchan has already indicated he intends to impose the lightest possible sentence, which would include no jail time, fines, or probation.
Trump will not be able to appeal his conviction until after the sentencing has been carried out.
A spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg confirmed that prosecutors plan to oppose Trump’s bid to delay the sentencing.
{Matzav.com}