The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s last-minute request to halt his sentencing in the criminal hush-money case.
Trump had asked the court to determine whether he was entitled to an automatic stay of his sentencing, but the justices dismissed his application by a 5-4 vote.
In its rationale for the decision on Thursday, the court stated that Trump could address his concerns with the verdict through appeals. It also noted that “the burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elect’s responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial court’s stated intent to impose a sentence of ‘unconditional discharge’ after a brief virtual hearing.”
This decision marks the end of Trump’s legal efforts to delay his sentencing, which is set to take place just 10 days before his second-term inauguration.
In May 2024, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying records to conceal reimbursements for a $130,000 hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016. Justice Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case, has indicated that a prison sentence is unlikely for Trump.
In response to the Supreme Court’s decision, the president-elect labelled the case a “disgrace,” although he conceded that the ruling was a “fair decision.” He also criticised Justice Merchan, claiming, “It’s a judge that shouldn’t have been on the case,” and added, “they can have fun with their political opponent.”
In a later post on Truth Social, Trump stated: “The pathetic, dying remnants of the Witch Hunts against me will not distract us.”
