Donald Trump’s sentencing in his Manhattan hush money criminal trial has been postponed until after the November election.
Originally set for September 18, the sentencing has been rescheduled to November 26 by Justice Juan Merchan.
The delay was attributed to the “unique time frame” of the case and the need for a sentencing hearing that remains focused solely on the jury’s verdict, without being influenced by the upcoming presidential election.
Justice Merchan emphasized that the verdict should be addressed without interference from the election’s significance.
This postponement places the sentencing exactly three weeks after the November 5 election.
Trump’s legal team had requested the delay and unsuccessfully attempted to move the case to federal court.
In May, a New York jury convicted Trump on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records, marking the first conviction of a current U.S. president.
Trump faces a potential sentence of up to four years in prison, although Justice Merchan also has the option to impose a fine, probation, or a shorter jail term.
