Posted on 11/19/24
| News Source: WBAL
New York prosecutors said Tuesday they’ll oppose any effort to dismiss President-elect Donald Trump’s hush money conviction as his sentencing looms, but they expressed some openness to delaying the case until after his impending second term.
In a court filing Tuesday, the Manhattan district attorney’s office said Trump’s forthcoming presidency isn’t grounds for dropping a case that was already tried. But “given the need to balance competing constitutional interests,” prosecutors said, “consideration must be given” to potentially freezing the case until after he’s out of office.
Trump was convicted in May of falsifying business records to cover up a scheme to influence the 2016 election by paying hush money [...] Trump denies the allegations.
Juan M. Merchan had given prosecutors until Tuesday to share their thoughts on how to proceed with the case, which had been scheduled for sentencing Nov. 26.
Prosecutors told Merchan in Tuesday’s letter that they “are mindful of the demands and obligations of the presidency” and realize that Trump’s return to the White House “will raise unprecedented legal questions.”
“We also deeply respect the fundamental role of the jury in our constitutional system,” they added.
The judge halted proceedings last week after Trump’s lawyers urged him to dismiss the case “to avoid unconstitutional impediments” to the incoming president’s ability to run the country.
Merchan has not said when he will decide. Trump is due to be sworn in Jan. 20.