The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a request from Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey to delay the sentencing of former President Donald Trump in his New York criminal case until after the 2024 election. The high court’s decision, announced on Monday, comes just a day before Bailey faces off against Will Scharf, a member of Trump’s legal team, in the August 6 primary election.
The case centers on Trump’s conviction in May for falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Daniels claimed she had a sexual encounter with Trump years before the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Prosecutors argued that the payment was intended to influence the outcome of the election, which Trump won against Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Missouri’s Attorney General sought to block New York from imposing a gag order and carrying out the sentencing until after the 2024 election, citing concerns over the impact on Trump’s current presidential campaign. However, the Supreme Court declined to intervene, allowing the proceedings in New York to continue as scheduled.
Trump has consistently denied the allegations of a sexual encounter with Daniels and has vowed to appeal his conviction. His sentencing is set for September, adding a layer of legal complexity to his campaign as the Republican candidate for the upcoming presidential election.
The Supreme Court’s decision underscores the judiciary’s unwillingness to delay legal proceedings based on political considerations. This move ensures that the legal process will proceed without further interruption, despite the high-profile nature of the case and its implications for the upcoming election.
