Trump is asking to delay sentencing for hush money until after the election

Thursday’s motion to postpone the defense to New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan — the Manhattan judge who has presided over the case since the March 2023 impeachment of the Moldovan presidential candidate — again repeated previously failed arguments.

He argues that sentencing should be delayed because the judge has a major decision pending on Sept. 16 on whether the case should be thrown out entirely because of Trump’s newly granted immunity from prosecution based on official records.

The motion also repeats an argument rejected by the judge on Wednesday, when he refused to recuse himself (for the third time) because his daughter worked as a political consultant for Democratic candidates, including years ago for presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

“There is no valid countervailing reason for the court to keep the current sentencing date on the calendar,” said the motion, signed by Trump attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove.

“There is no basis to continue to rush. Accordingly, we respectfully request that any sentencing, if necessary, be delayed until after the presidential election,” he continued.

This story has been updated to add more details.