Supreme Court allows Trump’s sentencing for felony counts, denies request to block hearing amid claims of injustice.
The Supreme Court has denied a request to block President-elect Donald Trump’s criminal sentencing related to hush money payments made to adult-film star Stormy Daniels.
This decision paves the way for a significant court proceeding in New York, which will formally label Trump as a felon.
In their brief order, the court concluded that Trump’s legal objections to his May conviction on 34 felony counts do not necessitate judicial intervention and can be resolved through the standard state appeal process.
The court indicated that the impact of attending the hearing would be minimal, as the trial judge stated that Trump would not face punishment, with the case expected to conclude following a brief virtual session.
The order was unsigned and was supported by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, Barrett, and Jackson.
Conversely, the court’s more conservative justices expressed their willingness to grant Trump’s request to prevent the hearing from occurring, with Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett being appointments made by Trump.
In response to the court’s ruling, Trump publicly criticized the trial judge and asserted his innocence regarding the charges against him, expressing confidence that he would ultimately appeal his conviction successfully.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the matter.
Last May, a state jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records to suppress potentially damaging information before the 2016 presidential election. The trial judge has indicated that a non-punitive sentence seems the most feasible outcome given Trump’s impending inauguration.
