Prosecutor will not oppose Trump sentencing delay in hush money case after immunity ruling
The Supreme Court decision grants broad immunity to presidents for any official acts, while also restricting prosecutors from citing any official acts as evidence in trying to prove a president’s unofficial actions violated the law.
In their filing, defence lawyers argued that Manhattan prosecutors had placed “highly prejudicial emphasis on official-acts evidence”, including Trump’s social media posts and witness testimony about Oval Office meetings.
Prosecutors said on Tuesday they believed those arguments were “without merit”, but noted they were not opposed to adjourning the sentencing as the judge considers the matter.
Prosecutors said the Daniels payment was part of a broader scheme to buy the silence of people who might have gone public during the campaign with embarrassing stories alleging he had extramarital sex. Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen paid Daniels and was later reimbursed by Trump, whose company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses.
Falsifying business records is punishable by up to four years behind bars. Other potential sentences include probation, a fine or a conditional discharge which would require Trump to stay out of trouble to avoid additional punishment. Trump is the first ex-president to be convicted of a crime.
Trump will be required to be present in Merchan’s Manhattan courtroom when he is sentenced.
Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.