The fate of Donald Trump’s high-profile felony conviction may be hanging in the balance after his recent presidential election win. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, who presided over Trump’s “hush money” trial, is set to announce next week whether the historic conviction will stand or be dismissed entirely.
The court delayed sentencing until after the election, and Trump’s victory has given his legal team renewed momentum to push for dismissal. Trump’s legal counsel is expected to argue that, as president-elect, he should be shielded from state-level prosecution and protected by constitutional privileges normally reserved for sitting presidents.
Paula Reid, CNN’s chief legal affairs correspondent, commented on the potential legal strategy, stating, “They’re going to argue to the judge that the sentencing should never happen because now that Trump is president-elect, he’s entitled to certain protections.” Trump’s team plans to invoke this argument to stall or even cancel the sentencing.
Convicted earlier this year on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records, Trump faced charges of orchestrating hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. The verdict was a landmark, making Trump the first former president convicted of a felony. However, Trump’s unexpected landslide win has created a complex legal dilemma that could redefine how presidential immunity applies to state convictions.
Legal experts have already expressed skepticism over the likelihood of Trump serving prison time. Former prosecutor Neama Rahmani remarked, “Merchan doesn’t have the stomach to imprison a former president or president-elect. Now that Trump has won, his criminal problems go away.”
As the nation watches, Judge Merchan’s ruling could set a precedent for how the legal system addresses the intersection of state prosecution and presidential status. Many are eager to see if the judge will indeed toss out the conviction, allowing Trump to focus solely on his upcoming term.
While Trump has yet to comment on the matter directly, his supporters argue that he should be free from what they see as politically motivated prosecutions. Trump’s next court date is scheduled for Tuesday, when the judge’s decision will be made public.