President-elect Donald Trump is seeking a Supreme Court intervention to halt his Friday sentencing in the New York hush-money case. Trump's legal team filed a request Wednesday, arguing the sentencing poses "grave injustice" to the presidency.
New York courts have refused to postpone the proceedings, prompting Trump's appeal. Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw the trial and conviction last May on 34 counts of falsifying business records, has set Friday as the sentencing date.
The Supreme Court has requested a response from New York prosecutors by Thursday. Trump's attorneys cite potential presidential immunity as a key argument for a stay. Their brief contends certain evidence presented in the hush money case should have been shielded due to the Supreme Court's ruling in a separate election interference case.
However, Judge Merchan has rejected this claim, arguing that presidential immunity does not apply to the current charges. Trump's spokesman, Steven Cheung, has called for the case to be dismissed. The Manhattan District Attorney's office has pledged a response in court documents.
While the judge has indicated no jail time, fines, or probation will be imposed, Trump's legal team persists in seeking an immediate stay to avoid what they perceive as potential damage to the presidency. The filing, signed by Trump's nominee for solicitor general, John Sauer, echoes arguments presented in the prior election interference case.
