Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump requested a delay in the sentencing of his New York hush money case until after the November presidential election.
A lawyer for Trump released a letter concerning the matter on Thursday to push back the current date set for Sept. 18.
“Sentencing is currently scheduled to occur after the commencement of early voting in the Presidential election,” Trump’s lawyers wrote.
“By adjourning the sentencing until after that election—which is of paramount importance to the entire Nation, including tens of millions of people who do not share the views of Authentic, its executives, and its clients—the Court would reduce, even if not eliminate, issues regarding the integrity of any future proceedings,” they added.
The presidential election is on Nov. 5. Many states also allow early voting, with some allowing early ballots just ahead of the current sentencing date.
Judge Juan Merchan did not rule out the request. A decision has not yet been made concerning the matter.
The request also comes after Trump criticized Merchan’s ruling to keep a gag order against him after a third attempt to remove the judge from his New York case.
As RSBN previously reported, Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday to address the reasons for his concern, calling for the Supreme Court to intervene.
“Judge Merchant just ruled that I, the Republican candidate for President, and leading in the Polls, am still under a Gag Order CONCERNING VERY IMPORTANT THINGS WHICH MUST BE BROUGHT TO LIGHT. I AM NOT ALLOWED TO ANSWER REPORTERS QUESTIONS,” he wrote.
“Can you believe this? The New York Courts refuse to act. This is happening right before the voting begins on September 6th,” he continued.
Trump referred to the ongoing rulings against him in New York as “voter interference.”
“Suppression and manipulation of the vote. Voter interference. This is the real Fascist ‘stuff,’ the old Soviet Union! So much to say, and I’m not allowed to say it. Must get U.S. Supreme Court involved. New York is trying to steal the Election!” he concluded.
Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges and denies any wrongdoing.