New York judge pauses proceedings in Trump hush money case

A New York state judge has paused proceedings in president-elect Donald Trump’s already-decided criminal case on charges stemming from hush money paid to a porn star, a document made public on Tuesday showed.

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New York Judge Juan M. Merchan had been set to rule Tuesday. Instead, he told Trump’s lawyers on Tuesday he’d delay the ruling until November 19.

According to emails filed in court, Trump’s lawyers asked for the delay over the weekend, arguing there are “strong reasons for the requested stay, and eventually dismissal of the case in the interests of justice.”

Prosecutors with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office sent Merchan an email on Sunday asking him to pause the proceedings due to Trump’s November 5 election victory and inauguration in January 2025. Trump had asked the office to agree to the delay, prosecutors wrote.

“The People agree that these are unprecedented circumstances,” prosecutors wrote.

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Trump’s conviction could be vacated due to the Supreme Court’s July decision on presidential immunity. Trump had also been scheduled to be sentenced on November 26.