Trump Claims Election Interference If Sentencing Not Delayed
Donald Trump is trying to push his upcoming sentencing hearing back again.
Currently, Trump is due to be sentenced on September 18 in the Bragg hush-money case.
His legal team just filed a motion to have it pushed back past election day, citing election interference.
Will It Work?
In its motion, Trump’s legal team cited "naked election-interference objectives” by having the sentencing next month.
It would be sandwiched between the two debates and right around the time that most states are starting early voting.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche wrote, "The Court should adjourn any sentencing in this case, though one should not be necessary because dismissal and vacatur of the jury’s verdicts are required based on Presidential immunity, until after the 2024 Presidential election.”
Blanche also stated that Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz "wrongly referred to this case in a public speech."
He also pointed to the fact that the judge in the case has a daughter who works for Authentic Campaigns, which has been fundraising for Democrats off the case.
Blanche continued, "Sentencing is currently scheduled to occur after the commencement of early voting in the Presidential election.
"By adjourning sentencing until after the election — which is of paramount importance to the entire nation, including tens of millions of people who do not share the views of Authentic, its executives, and its clients — the Court would reduce, even if not eliminate, issues regarding the integrity of any future proceedings."
He concluded, "Setting aside naked election-interference objectives, there is no valid countervailing reason for the Court to keep the current sentencing date on the calendar. There is no basis for continuing to rush.
"Accordingly, we respectfully request that any sentencing, if one is needed, be adjourned until after the Presidential election."
Sadly, I do not believe they will be successful in their attempt to have the case sentencing delayed.
They have asked Merchan to recuse himself using much of the same argument, but he has refused every time.
Merchan appears to want to make a statement against Trump in this case, so he will more than likely respond that Trump being in a presidential race is irrelevant to the case and it will move forward as anticipated.
When that sentencing does happen, you better believe Democrats will pounce, especially if Merchan sentences Trump to jail.
It is just more negative news to hurt Trump at a time when he can ill afford it.