The United States Supreme Court on Thursday rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s last-ditch effort to delay his sentencing in the hush money case involving adult film star Stormy Daniels. In a 5-4 ruling, the court denied Trump’s emergency application to block his sentencing, which is set for Friday.
The court’s brief, unsigned order stated that the “burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elect’s responsibilities is relatively insubstantial,” adding that Trump would be allowed to attend the hearing virtually. It also noted that the judge presiding over the case had indicated he would impose an “unconditional discharge,” meaning no jail time, fines, or probation.
Trump, 78, who is scheduled to be inaugurated as president on January 20, had filed the emergency request on Wednesday, arguing that sentencing would be a “grave injustice” and would interfere with his presidential duties. His legal team also sought to extend the immunity granted to sitting presidents to Trump as a president-elect.
Despite the claims from Trump’s legal team, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg countered that Trump was a private citizen when the crimes were committed, stating that the Supreme Court “lacks jurisdiction” over state court proceedings. Bragg argued that halting the sentencing would be an extraordinary step with no legal foundation.
In a narrow 5-4 vote, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh were involved in the decision. Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh, all conservatives appointed by Trump, supported his request. However, Roberts and Barrett, alongside the three liberal justices, voted to reject the request.
Trump was convicted in May by a New York jury on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal payments made to Daniels during the 2016 election cycle. The conviction stems from a scheme to pay Daniels $130,000 in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump.
With the Supreme Court’s decision, Trump remains on track to be sentenced at 9:30 AM (1430 GMT) on Friday in Manhattan. Judge Juan Merchan has already indicated that he is leaning towards an unconditional discharge. Trump is unlikely to face jail time, and there are no plans for a fine or probation.
Trump’s legal battles are far from over, as he continues to maintain that the case against him is politically motivated. Should he take further legal action, he may still appeal his conviction through the state courts in New York.
The sentencing marks a historic moment as Trump becomes the first former US president convicted of a crime. If sentenced, he will also become the first convicted felon to serve as president. Trump faces up to four years in prison, but experts believe he is unlikely to serve time.
The ruling comes just days after Trump was officially declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election, four years after the January 6 Capitol riots, which were incited by his supporters in a failed attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.
