NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� A judge agreed Friday to postpone Donald Trump鈥檚 sentencing in his hush money case until after the November election, granting him a hard-won reprieve as he navigates the aftermath of his criminal conviction and the homestretch of his presidential campaign.
Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan, who is also weighing a defense request to overturn the verdict on immunity grounds, delayed Trump鈥檚 sentencing until Nov. 26, several weeks after the final votes are cast in the presidential election.
It had been scheduled for Sept. 18, about seven weeks before Election Day.
Trump鈥檚 lawyers pushed for the delay on multiple fronts, and asking a . They argued that punishing the former president and current Republican nominee in the thick of his campaign to retake the White House would amount to election interference.
Trump鈥檚 lawyers argued that delaying his sentencing until after the election would also allow him time to weigh next steps after Merchan rules on the defense鈥檚 request to because of the U.S. Supreme Court鈥檚 July .
In his order Friday, Merchan delayed a decision on that until Nov. 12.
A to have the U.S. District Court in Manhattan to seize the case from Merchan鈥檚 state court. Had they been successful, they would have then sought to have the verdict overturned and the case dismissed on immunity grounds.
Trump is appealing the federal court ruling.
The Manhattan district attorney鈥檚 office, which prosecuted Trump鈥檚 case, deferred to Merchan and did not take a position on the defense鈥檚 delay request.
Michael R. Sisak, The Associated Press
