On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed former President Donald Trump’s sentencing to proceed in the hush money case related to a $130,000 payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The court denied Trump’s last-minute request to delay his sentencing, which is scheduled for Friday in New York. In a 5-4 decision, the Court ruled in favor of continuing the legal process, with two conservative justices, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, joining the three liberal justices.
The case involves Trump’s conviction on charges of falsifying business records to cover up the hush money payment made shortly before the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. Trump denies the allegations of misconduct but faces sentencing for actions that prosecutors argue were aimed at influencing the election.
Justice Juan Merchan, the trial judge, indicated that he is unlikely to sentence Trump to prison. Instead, he may grant him an “unconditional discharge,” which means the guilty judgment will stand, but no further penalties such as fines or probation would be imposed.
The Supreme Court’s decision comes after Trump sought relief, arguing that his immunity as president-elect should protect him from prosecution. Trump’s legal team claimed that prosecutors improperly included evidence of his official actions in the trial, but the court maintained that the trial focused on Trump’s personal conduct, not his presidential duties.
In a statement following the ruling, Trump expressed his belief that the decision was fair, though he vowed to appeal. Trump continues to assert that the charges are politically motivated and vowed to fight the case on his social media platform.
This decision marks a significant moment in Trump’s legal battles, with the former president becoming the first to be criminally prosecuted and convicted after leaving office. Trump’s legal team plans to pursue further appeals, including challenging his alleged immunity as president-elect.
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