Former President Donald Trump, the first former US president to be convicted of felony charges, has had his sentencing delayed until at least September by Judge Juan Merchan in his hush money case. Trump’s legal team requested the delay following a Supreme Court ruling granting broad criminal immunity for presidents in official acts. Trump was convicted on 34 felony charges related to falsifying business documents to cover up hush money payments. Prosecutors had connected the payments to a broader scheme to influence the 2016 presidential election.
The delay in sentencing could have political implications as Trump faces three additional criminal trials. It is expected to impact federal cases related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and state trials in Georgia, among others. While the New York trial was the only one expected to finish before the election, the outcome could influence Trump’s support base among voters.
The delay in sentencing comes after President Joe Biden’s lackluster performance in the first presidential debate against Trump, causing concerns over his age and leading to calls for him to end his re-election bid. However, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that while some Democrats think Biden should drop out, there is no prominent elected Democrat who could perform better against Trump in a hypothetical matchup. Biden is set to meet with Democratic governors and give interviews to address concerns while reaffirming his intention to continue in the race.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com