New York prosecutors announced on Tuesday that they will oppose any attempts to dismiss President-elect Donald Trump’s hush money conviction as his sentencing date approaches. They did express some willingness to consider delaying the case until after his potential second term in office.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office filed a court document stating that Trump’s upcoming presidency does not justify dropping a case that has already been tried. However, they acknowledged the need to balance constitutional interests and are open to freezing the case until after he leaves office.
Trump was found guilty in May of falsifying business records to cover up a payment made to a porn actor to influence the 2016 election. He has denied these allegations.
The judge in the case postponed proceedings after Trump’s lawyers urged him to dismiss the case to avoid any potential obstacles to the president-elect’s ability to govern the country. The judge has not yet made a decision and the sentencing date was originally set for November 26.
If the case proceeds to sentencing, Trump could face penalties ranging from a fine or probation to up to four years in prison. However, it is unlikely that he would serve any time behind bars for a first-time conviction involving charges in the lowest tier of felonies.
Trump’s legal team has been working to reverse his conviction, citing a Supreme Court ruling that ex-presidents cannot be prosecuted for official acts. They argue that certain evidence presented in the case was improper.
As the legal battle continues, Trump’s supporters have shown their support, with some attending rallies wearing T-shirts calling for his freedom. Despite the conviction, Trump has vowed to appeal the verdict.
It is important to note that because this is a state case, Trump would not be able to pardon himself once he returns to office. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes.
In addition to the hush money case, Trump is facing other legal challenges, including efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations of hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Georgia is also ongoing.
Overall, the legal proceedings surrounding Trump’s hush money conviction continue to unfold as prosecutors and defense attorneys present their arguments in court. The outcome of the case remains uncertain, but it is clear that both sides are prepared to fight for their positions.
