7th January 2025 – (Washington) Donald Trump is challenging two rulings by Judge Juan Merchan that dismissed his efforts to overturn his conviction in the hush money case. The former president is also requesting a stay on his scheduled sentencing set for 10th January, 2025.
This appeal coincides with the day Trump is expected to be certified as the winner of the 2024 presidential election, marking four years since he attempted to contest his election defeat, an effort that culminated in the Capitol riots.
On Friday, Judge Merchan ruled against Trump’s bid to dismiss his conviction, asserting that his election to the presidency did not negate the charges. He scheduled sentencing for the hush money case, clarifying that Trump would not face jail time.
Trump’s legal team contends that the sentencing should be postponed while his appeals are underway, requesting a response from Merchan by 2pm ET on Monday. Their filing argues that the sentencing hearing should be vacated and all case deadlines suspended until the resolution of Trump’s immunity appeals, which they believe should lead to the case’s dismissal.
In May, Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to cover a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, aimed at preventing her from discussing an alleged affair prior to the 2016 election—an affair Trump has denied. Initially set for sentencing in July, the hearing was postponed following a Supreme Court ruling regarding presidential immunity, but Merchan recently rejected Trump’s immunity claims in this case.
