Prosecutors Suggest Delaying Trump Sentencing Until Post-Presidency

New York prosecutors have indicated they will oppose efforts by President-elect Donald Trump to overturn his criminal conviction but are open to deferring his sentencing until the end of his upcoming presidential term in 2029.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office filed a motion urging Justice Juan Merchan to consider postponing Trump’s sentencing, currently set for November 26, while rejecting any dismissal of the conviction. Prosecutors suggested deferring the proceedings to balance constitutional concerns surrounding the conviction of a sitting president.

Trump was found guilty in May of falsifying business records in connection with alleged attempts to conceal a potential sex scandal during his 2016 presidential campaign. The case, the only one of four criminal prosecutions against Trump to reach a guilty verdict, has become a legal flashpoint as he prepares for his second term in the White House.

Trump’s legal team argues for the conviction’s dismissal, citing presidential immunity following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that grants broad protections for official acts. Prosecutors countered that the charges are unrelated to presidential duties and predate the ruling.

Mitchell Epner, a former prosecutor, commented that the DA’s proposal essentially “pauses the case until after Trump leaves office,” emphasizing that it avoids dismissal while addressing constitutional concerns.

If accepted, this proposal could delay Trump’s sentencing until after January 20, 2029, when his presidential term concludes. Legal experts, including former Manhattan prosecutor Diana Florence, anticipate that the November hearing will likely be rescheduled.

Potential sentences range from fines and probation to a maximum of four years in prison. However, with Trump’s impending inauguration and constitutional questions at play, the prospect of any immediate legal repercussions remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung declared the situation a “total and definitive victory,” although Justice Merchan has yet to issue a ruling on the matter.