Trump gets criminal sentencing delayed till after presidential election

A New York judge on Friday delayed the sentencing in a criminal case against former President Donald Trump in order to ensure the court is seen as politically impartial.

Judge Juan Merchan set the new sentencing date for Nov. 26, a few weeks after the election.

“The imposition of sentence will be adjourned to avoid any appearance—however unwarranted—that the proceeding has been affected by or seeks to affect the approaching Presidential election in which the Defendant is a candidate,” Merchan said in his decision. “The Court is a fair, impartial, and apolitical institution.”

The decision comes after Trump’s lawyers attempted to use the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent landmark decision on presidential immunity to clear his unprecedented conviction ahead of the election.

Merchan also postponed consideration on whether to overturn the criminal conviction in light of a recent Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity and other evidence. That hearing is now set for Nov. 12.

In May, Trump became the first former or sitting U.S. president to be tried on criminal charges and be convicted.

His legal team argued that various testimony, such as that of former White House employees, and evidence, like statements made while he was president, violate the Supreme Court ruling that decided presidents have immunity for official acts they take in office.

The Supreme Court decision came after Trump was convicted in New York — but before he was sentenced. The timing threw into disarray what was already an unprecedented felony conviction against a former president and current Republican presidential nominee.

Trump and his lawyers have spent the summer trying to blunt the case’s impact, in part by accusing Merchan of political bias.