President-elect Donald Trump’s effort to delay his sentencing in the criminal hush-money case was unsuccessful, as the U.S. Supreme Court narrowly rejected his application in a 5-4 decision, according to the BBC. The ruling clears the way for sentencing to proceed as scheduled on Friday.
In response on Thursday evening, Trump criticized the case as a “disgrace” but conceded the Supreme Court’s decision was “actually fair.” He also criticized Justice Juan Merchan, claiming, “It’s a judge that shouldn’t have been on the case. They can have fun with their political opponent.” On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “The pathetic, dying remnants of the Witch Hunts against me will not distract us.”
Trump was convicted of falsifying business records to conceal reimbursements for a $130,000 hush-money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. Despite the conviction, Justice Merchan has indicated he will not impose a jail sentence.
Manhattan prosecutors emphasized the “compelling public interest” in proceeding with the sentencing, while the Supreme Court noted that the burden of attending was “insubstantial” and that Trump’s concerns could be addressed during an appeal. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court’s three liberal justices in denying Trump’s request for a delay. The four dissenting justices sided with Trump’s petition.
This decision caps months of legal battles, with Trump’s legal team losing multiple appeals in lower New York courts before petitioning the Supreme Court. Justice Merchan set the sentencing date for January 10, just days before Trump’s inauguration.
In a separate legal blow, a federal appeals court in Georgia rejected Trump’s attempt to block the release of a special counsel’s report on alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.