Supreme Court Declines Trump's Request to Stop His 'Hush Money' Sentencing
The high court's decision paves the way for the president-elect to receive a sentence for his criminal conviction in Manhattan on Friday.
TroibNews 
A split Supreme Court has turned down President-elect Donald Trump’s request to postpone his sentencing in the Manhattan hush money case, leaving him facing an unwelcome distraction just days ahead of his upcoming inauguration for a second term.
The court's rejection, decided by a 5-4 vote, allows for a hearing on Friday to finalize his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels.
As a result, Trump is set to become the first convicted felon to hold the presidency.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, both Republican appointees, sided with the three Democratic justices in denying Trump’s last-minute effort to delay the sentencing. The dissenting justices included Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh.
Trump's legal team argued that the criminal sentencing would disrupt his presidential transition responsibilities and potentially threaten national security. However, the Supreme Court's succinct order dismissed these claims.
“The burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elect’s responsibilities is relatively insubstantial,” the order stated, highlighting that the judge in the case indicated he does not intend to impose any punishment during Friday’s “brief virtual hearing.”
The dissenting justices did not provide any reasoning for their support of Trump.
Trump has pledged to appeal his conviction, asserting that certain evidence and testimony presented during his trial affected his duties as president in his first term. Last summer, the Supreme Court determined that presidents are immune from criminal prosecution for certain official actions. While the recent order did not delve into those aspects, it indicated that Trump’s claims regarding trial errors “can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal.”
Shortly after the Supreme Court's decision, Trump took to social media to announce, “for the sake and sanctity of the Presidency, I will be appealing this case, and am confident that JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL.”
Later, while addressing reporters at Mar-a-Lago, Trump appeared to accept the Supreme Court's ruling without much concern.
“I read it, and I thought it was a fair decision, actually,” he remarked, characterizing the sentencing as a political stunt by his adversaries.
"I'll do my little thing tomorrow. They can have fun with their political opponent,” he added.
After a six-week trial, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty last May of tampering with Trump Organization records to conceal a $130,000 payment to Daniels, intended to suppress a story about an alleged sexual encounter they had at a celebrity golf tournament in 2006. Trump has denied any sexual relations with Daniels.
At Trump’s request, the sentencing was delayed twice from its originally scheduled date last July, with Justice Juan Merchan setting the hearing for this Friday.
Before the Supreme Court's ruling on Thursday, Trump had sought to challenge the sentencing in New York appellate courts, but two separate judges denied his motions, leading him to turn to the Supreme Court for a final attempt to halt the proceedings.
Myah Ward contributed to this report.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
The court's rejection, decided by a 5-4 vote, allows for a hearing on Friday to finalize his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels.
As a result, Trump is set to become the first convicted felon to hold the presidency.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, both Republican appointees, sided with the three Democratic justices in denying Trump’s last-minute effort to delay the sentencing. The dissenting justices included Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh.
Trump's legal team argued that the criminal sentencing would disrupt his presidential transition responsibilities and potentially threaten national security. However, the Supreme Court's succinct order dismissed these claims.
“The burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elect’s responsibilities is relatively insubstantial,” the order stated, highlighting that the judge in the case indicated he does not intend to impose any punishment during Friday’s “brief virtual hearing.”
The dissenting justices did not provide any reasoning for their support of Trump.
Trump has pledged to appeal his conviction, asserting that certain evidence and testimony presented during his trial affected his duties as president in his first term. Last summer, the Supreme Court determined that presidents are immune from criminal prosecution for certain official actions. While the recent order did not delve into those aspects, it indicated that Trump’s claims regarding trial errors “can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal.”
Shortly after the Supreme Court's decision, Trump took to social media to announce, “for the sake and sanctity of the Presidency, I will be appealing this case, and am confident that JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL.”
Later, while addressing reporters at Mar-a-Lago, Trump appeared to accept the Supreme Court's ruling without much concern.
“I read it, and I thought it was a fair decision, actually,” he remarked, characterizing the sentencing as a political stunt by his adversaries.
"I'll do my little thing tomorrow. They can have fun with their political opponent,” he added.
After a six-week trial, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty last May of tampering with Trump Organization records to conceal a $130,000 payment to Daniels, intended to suppress a story about an alleged sexual encounter they had at a celebrity golf tournament in 2006. Trump has denied any sexual relations with Daniels.
At Trump’s request, the sentencing was delayed twice from its originally scheduled date last July, with Justice Juan Merchan setting the hearing for this Friday.
Before the Supreme Court's ruling on Thursday, Trump had sought to challenge the sentencing in New York appellate courts, but two separate judges denied his motions, leading him to turn to the Supreme Court for a final attempt to halt the proceedings.
Myah Ward contributed to this report.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
