The U.S. Supreme Court has denied President-elect Donald Trump’s urgent request to delay his sentencing in the high-profile criminal hush-money case. The justices, in a narrow 5-4 decision, rejected Trump’s bid for an automatic stay of his sentencing, which is scheduled for Friday.
This decision follows Trump’s conviction for falsifying records to obscure $130,000 in payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. The payments were falsely recorded as legal expenses, leading to criminal charges. Despite the verdict, Justice Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the case, has indicated that he will not impose a jail term for the president-elect.
Trump’s Reaction to the Supreme Court Ruling
Reacting to the ruling on Thursday evening, Trump expressed frustration, calling the case a “disgrace” while acknowledging the fairness of the Supreme Court’s decision.
“It’s a judge that shouldn’t have been on the case,” Trump said, referring to Justice Merchan. He also accused his political opponents of using the legal system against him.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump dismissed the case as part of ongoing political attacks, stating, “The pathetic, dying remnants of the Witch Hunts against me will not distract us.”
Divided Supreme Court
The ruling revealed a split among the justices, with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett—both conservatives—joining the court’s three liberal justices to deny Trump’s request. The dissenting justices, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh, supported Trump’s bid for a delay.
Implications for Trump
This latest legal setback adds to the mounting challenges Trump faces as he prepares for his presidency. The hush-money case, coupled with other legal and political hurdles, has cast a shadow over his return to the White House.
Despite this, Trump has continued to position himself as a target of political persecution, a narrative he hopes will galvanize his supporters and solidify his base as he navigates these turbulent times.
