Donald Trump urges Judge Juan Merchan to halt hush money sentencing indefinitely

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump's legal team has moved to stop the proceedings in the New York hush money criminal case.

On Friday, August 30, the attorneys wrote a letter to the judge presiding over the case, to postpone the decision as the former president tried to get a federal court to intervene.

Donald Trump's attorneys ask Judge Juan Merchan to further delay the decision

Donald Trump’s lawyers have also requested the trial judge, Juan M Merchan, to postpone the September 18 sentencing indefinitely.

The legal team has expressed that they will seek to have the verdict overturned and the case dismissed on immunity grounds if the case moves to federal court. 

They had previously asked Merchan to delay Trump's sentencing until after the November election, and he is yet to decide on that request, reported NBC New York.

“There is no good reason to sentence President Trump prior to November 5, 2024, if there is to be a sentencing at all, or to drive the post-trial proceedings forward on a needlessly accelerated timeline," Trump's lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove wrote.

Trump was convicted in May of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment to adult actress Stormy Daniels. The former president has rejected her claims. 

Internet wants Donald Trump's hush money sentencing as per schedule, 'no more delays'

Netizens expressed that Donald Trump's hush money proceedings and sentencing should take place on September 16, as per the schedule. Many feel the former president is trying to manipulate and exploit the justice system.

A user shared on X, "It would be awesome if he was immediately remanded, but the chance of that happening is almost zero."

"This looks like a trick to get a judge to decide that Trump’s felonies were committed as official acts, which would be the basis for removal and render the case moot under immunity judgment," another expressed.

"Is the fact that he doesn’t accept any responsibility or guilt also a factor against him?" a person asked.

A critic shared, "I hope someone takes a stand and says NO. He is abusing and making an effing mockery of our justice system— is there any judge that cares about that?"

Another opined, "Trump did himself no favors by mercilessly attacking the judge and his family members day in and day out. In fact, even now unleashing Jim Jordan on them. Sentence him. No more delays!"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.