Judge in Trump Hush Money Case Moves Date for Presidential Immunity Ruling

Judge Juan M. Merchan has postponed a pivotal ruling on presidential immunity to just two days before Donald Trump's scheduled sentencing, as reported by the Associated Press (AP).

The decision on immunity was initially set for September 6, with sentencing planned for September 18. However, following a request from Trump's legal team, Merchan has rescheduled the immunity ruling to September 16.

Trump's attorneys had submitted a motion last week asking Merchan to first address their renewed appeal for the judge’s recusal from the case. This delay means the immunity ruling will be determined only if the judge does not step down.

In a public letter released on Tuesday, Judge Merchan underscored that Trump is still required to appear in court on September 18 for "the imposition of sentence or other proceedings as appropriate." The AP reached out to both prosecutors and Trump’s legal team for comments, but the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which is handling the case, declined to respond.

In May, a Manhattan jury convicted Trump of falsifying business records to conceal a payment arrangement with adult film actress Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election. Daniels was reportedly considering revealing an alleged past sexual encounter with Trump. Trump has consistently denied these allegations and claims the prosecution is politically motivated.

Trump's legal team argues that the Supreme Court’s July ruling on presidential immunity should overturn the May conviction and dismiss the hush money case. The Supreme Court's ruling shields former presidents from prosecution for official acts and restricts the use of such acts as evidence against them. Trump's lawyers also argue that the trial was "tainted" by inadmissible evidence, including testimonies from former Trump White House staffers and social media posts made by Trump in 2018.

Conversely, the Manhattan district attorney's office contends that the Supreme Court's decision is irrelevant to the hush money case, as it pertains to unofficial actions not covered by presidential immunity.

Last week, Trump's attorneys requested for the third time that Merchan recuse himself from the case, citing potential bias due to the judge's daughter working for Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2020 presidential campaign. Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, argued that Harris's entry into the 2024 presidential race has intensified these concerns.

Judge Merchan had previously dismissed two prior recusal requests last year, deeming the defense's concerns as "hypothetical."