Former US President Donald Trump’s sentencing for felony charges related to hush money payments has been delayed until at least September, following a request from his legal team. They cited a recent US Supreme Court ruling that provides broad criminal immunity for presidents in their official acts as the reason for the delay. Prosecutors had argued that Trump falsified business records to cover up hush money payments made to adult actress Stormy Daniels, connecting the payments to a scheme to influence the 2016 presidential election.
The Supreme Court ruling, which was criticized by three liberal justices, gave presidents “absolute immunity” from criminal liability for acts within their core constitutional powers. This decision could impact Trump’s upcoming criminal trials related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and hiding classified documents.
Analysts believe a severe sentence in the New York trial could affect Trump’s support, especially as President Joe Biden’s campaign faces challenges following a lackluster debate performance against Trump. Despite polls showing some Democrats questioning Biden’s re-election bid, the White House has confirmed that he has no intention of dropping out of the race.
Overall, the delay in Trump’s sentencing and the implications of the Supreme Court ruling add a layer of complexity to the upcoming legal battles involving the former president, while also highlighting challenges for both the Trump and Biden camps in the lead-up to the November elections.
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