Donald Trump's sentencing in hush money case to be DELAYED until September 18
- Trump's lawyers have until July 10 to file motion to set aside hush money verdict
- Judge Merchan said he would make ruling September 6
- READ MORE: Supreme Court releases decision on presidential immunity
Donald Trump's sentencing for a 34-count hush money conviction in Manhattan will be delayed until September after the Supreme Court released its decision on presidential immunity.
Judge Juan Merchan on Tuesday sent a letter to both Trump's attorneys and the Manhattan District Attorney's office informing them of his decision on Tuesday.
Trump's sentencing is now scheduled for September 18. It was previously set for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
The postponement came after the Manhattan DA's office said it will not oppose delaying sentencing as Trump's lawyers move to file a motion to overturn his hush money verdict.
A New York jury unanimously found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records on May 30 for covering up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet before the 2016 election.
Donald Trump in the Manhattan criminal court after being found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records on May 30
But on Monday, Trump's attorney sent a letter asking to set aside his conviction and delay his sentencing following the blockbuster Supreme Court immunity ruling.
Trump contended he is immune from prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office.
In his response, Judge Merchan said he would release a decision in the case on September 6 and if still necessary sentencing would be September 18.
The conservative justices on the Supreme Court ruled that a president does have immunity from prosecution for official acts in office - but not for unofficial acts.
The decision is a major setback for the federal criminal case against Trump, who is accused of trying to overturn the 2020 election and inciting the mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
After Monday's ruling, which was decided by a 6-3 vote, Trump claimed the decision 'totally dismantled most of the charges against me.'
While the DA's office said it would not oppose his request to delay sentencing, it rejected that the conviction could be voided.
'Although we believe defendant's arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion,' assistant district attorney Joshua Steinglass wrote.
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg speaking to the media after Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts. His office said it does not oppose delaying sentencing
The Manhattan district attorney's office requested two weeks from Trump's lawyers filing paperwork to respond, setting their deadline at July 24.
Merchan granted both the requests from Trump's lawyers to file their motion by July 10 and from the DA's office to have two weeks to respond.
The hush money case centered around the ex-president's personal activity during the 2016 campaign to cover up a sex scandal while seeking office, but some of the evidence used to convict him came from his time in office.
Trump's lawyers argued on Monday the conviction should be set aside.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court that under the U.S.'s constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of presidential power 'entitles a former president to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority'.
'And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is no immunity for unofficial acts.'
