Prosecutor Won’t Oppose Delaying Trump’s Sentencing in Bribery Case After Immunity Ruling

Manhattan prosecutors said Tuesday they will not oppose Donald Trump’s request to delay sentencing in his bribery trial as he seeks to overturn his conviction following a Supreme Court ruling that granted presidents broad immunity protections.

In a letter filed in New York City court, prosecutors with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said they are open to at least a two-week delay from the July 11 sentencing to file a response to the Trump conclusions.

If Judge Juan Merchan agrees, the delay would mean Trump would not learn his sentence until he is formally nominated at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 15, risking a prison sentence at a key moment in his campaign.

The letter came a day after Trump’s lawyer asked the judge to delay sentencing so he could consider the Supreme Court decision and its impact on the New York case.

The Supreme Court decision grants presidents broad immunity from prosecution for any official actions while barring prosecutors from citing any official actions as evidence in an attempt to prove that the president’s unofficial actions violate the law.

In their motion, defense attorneys argued that Manhattan prosecutors placed “a very prejudicial emphasis on evidence of official actions,” including Trump’s social media posts and witness testimony about meetings in the Oval Office.

Prosecutors said Tuesday they considered those arguments “baseless” but said they did not oppose postponing sentencing until a judge reviews the case.

Trump was convicted on May 30 of 34 counts of falsifying business records in what prosecutors said was an attempt to conceal $130,000 in hush money paid to a porn actor Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 presidential elections.

Daniels claims she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006 after meeting him at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe. Trump has repeatedly denied the claims, speaking during a June 27 debate with the president. Joe Biden: “I did not have sex with a porn star.”

Porn actor Stormy Daniels. Photo: AP

Prosecutors said Daniels’ payment was part of a broader scheme to buy the silence of people who might have come forward publicly during the campaign with embarrassing stories about his extramarital sex. Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels and later received a refund from Trump, whose firm billed the refunds as legal fees.

Falsifying business records is punishable by up to four years in prison. Other potential sentences include probation, a fine or parole, which would require Trump to stay out of trouble to avoid additional punishment. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime.

Trump will be required to appear in court in Manhattan for sentencing.

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.