BREAKING: Judge Juan Merchan Delays Trump's Sentencing Hearing Until September Following Supreme Court Ruling

On Tuesday, Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan decided to delay presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump's sentencing hearing until September after the Supreme Court ruled that presidents cannot be criminally prosecuted for "official acts" outlined in Article II of the Constitution. The Supreme Court justices also decided that evidence originating from a president's "official acts" cannot be used as evidence in criminal proceedings. Trump was initially scheduled to appear at his sentencing hearing on July 11, just four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
 

As previously reported by the DC Enquirer, Trump's legal team will argue that the case against the former president was built upon evidence that occurred during his presidency. Given the Supreme Court's ruling in Trump v. United States, the case could be thrown out by Judge Merchan if he deems that some of the evidence brought into the case stemmed from when Trump was president.

In response to the Trump team's request, the Manhattan District Attorney's office said that they do "not oppose" pushing back Trump's sentencing hearing, which was scheduled to take place just four days before the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, for at least two weeks so that Justice Juan Merchan has time to consider the impact of the Supreme Court decision on the case.

"Although we believe defendant's arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion," the DA's office wrote. Following the prosecution's response, Judge Merchan said that he would make his decision about the future of the case by September 6 and that the sentencing hearing would take place on September 18 "if...still necessary."

Trump was found guilty in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records, and he could face up to four years in prison following the conviction. However, it is more likely that Trump would be sentenced to probation or community service.

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