Trump asks for stay of hush money sentencing

CNN
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Lawyers for Donald Trump on Wednesday asked a federal appeals court to delay his sentencing until the justices hear the former president’s legal arguments to move the hush-money case to federal court.

This latest request comes after a federal judge denied Trump’s request to move the state’s case to federal court and delay the sentencing, currently scheduled for September 18.

Trump’s lawyers said: “If the request for a stay is not granted, the proceedings in New York County are expected to proceed with sentencing and ‘judgment of conviction’ on September 18, 2024 … which could result in the immediate imprisonment of President Trump and irreparable harm to the upcoming election before this Court has an opportunity to address the federal interests at issue in this appeal.”

Trump’s lawyers are asking the appeals court to stay the federal judge’s ruling so the case doesn’t go back to state court, where Trump will be sentenced.

Trump filed a motion Wednesday morning to appeal the decision to deny the transfer to federal court. That evening, his lawyers filed motions with the federal judge and the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals seeking to stay the federal judge’s ruling until the appeals court can hear arguments on the merits of moving the case to federal court. The one-two effort is Trump’s latest attempt to delay his sentencing.

Trump’s lawyers have argued that the case should be brought in federal court after the Supreme Court ruled this summer to grant Trump immunity for some of his conduct that fell within his official authority.

Manhattan prosecutors have resisted a challenge to moving the case to federal court, saying they will leave it up to the trial judge to consider Trump’s bid to delay his sentencing until after the election.

Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the trial, could make a ruling as early as this week.

This story has been updated with additional details.