A New York appellate court has dashed Donald Trump’s hopes of postponing sentencing for his conviction on charges tied to hush money payments, ruling against his plea just days before his inauguration as president.
The decision, handed down by Associate Justice Ellen Gesmer, came after an intense hearing where Trump’s legal team attempted to argue for presidential immunity during the transition period—a claim that failed to find legal backing.
The trial judge, Justice Juan Merchan, had earlier dismissed Trump’s requests for a delay, labeling them as recycled arguments. Merchan indicated he had no plans to impose a prison sentence, suggesting an unconditional discharge instead—a formal guilty judgment without penalties like fines or probation.
Despite this assurance, Trump’s team raised concerns about the possibility of incarceration lingering over the January 20 inauguration. Gesmer appeared unimpressed, pressing Trump’s lawyer to provide evidence supporting the immunity claim. “Do you have any support for the notion that presidential immunity extends to a president-elect?” she asked. The lawyer admitted no precedent existed.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office argued that Trump had previously delayed the case on multiple occasions, making his current objections to timing seem disingenuous. Gesmer concurred, pointing out that Trump could have resolved the matter months earlier.
In a sharp rebuke to Trump’s team, Gesmer issued a one-line decision shortly after the hearing: “Application for an interim stay is denied.”
Trump, maintaining his defiance, called the judge overseeing the case “crooked” and accused him of complicating the presidential transition.
This sentencing stems from a $130,000 payment made by Trump’s former lawyer to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to silence claims of an alleged affair. While Trump denies the allegations, the case has cemented his place in history as the first U.S. president—current or former—to be criminally convicted.
As the countdown to sentencing continues, Trump’s legal maneuvers appear to be running out of road, leaving the former president facing the consequences of a verdict that has sparked fierce political and legal debates.
