Judge Juan Merchan again paused proceedings in the so-called "hush money" case on Tuesday, November 19. Sentencing had been scheduled for a week later -- November 26, 2024.
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(New York, NY) – The saga that is President-elect Trump’s so-called “hush money case” continues — with no clear conclusion in sight. Today, Judge Juan Merchan agreed to “pause” the proceedings indefinitely, a move that Manhattan prosecutors said they agreed with.
This case includes claims and interactions that date back to 2006, and then 2016, in the run-up to or aftermath of the presidential election that first saw President-elect Trump win the White House. His attorneys allegedly arranged for a payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels — who alleges she had an affair with Trump. He denies that ever happened. But prosecutors convinced members of a Manhattan jury that it was a crime, under charges of business record falsification.
Now, the case is in limbo, for a couple different reasons. For one, Trump is headed back to the White House in 2025, so it’s an unprecedented situation given he could be serving as the chief executive when he’s sentenced. Also, Trump’s attorneys have argued the case ought to be retried because of the evidence and testimony permitted during the trial. That connects to the presidential immunity doctrine, something the US Supreme Court affirmed this summer.
While Manhattan prosecutors apparently supported the “pause” decision, they also reportedly oppose the case being dismissed outright. It appears the “pause” could even last four years — past Trump’s coming term in the White House.
