President-elect Trump's team criticized a judge in a New York criminal case for denying his request to discontinue the case and set a sentencing date for next week following his election victory.
President Trump's press secretary, Stephen Chan, said in a statement that the “lawless lawsuit” should never have been filed and should be dismissed immediately.
“Today's order by acting Judge Marchan, a deeply conflicted judge in the Manhattan witch hunt case, is a direct violation of the Supreme Court's immunity decision and other longstanding precedent,” Chan said.
He added: “President Trump must be allowed to continue the presidential transition process and carry out the important duties of his presidency, unencumbered by the remnants of the witch hunt and the remnants of the witch hunt.” He added that no sentencing should proceed. .
Judge Juan Melchán on Friday ordered Trump to be sentenced on Jan. 10, refusing to dismiss the case to coincide with his presidency. The decision leaves Trump's criminal conviction final, making him the first felon in office, but he can still appeal the jury's verdict.
The president-elect was found guilty in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal hush money paid to porn actor Stormy Daniels by a former fixer to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election. I received it. During the campaign, Daniels was paid to remain silent about allegations of an affair with Trump, which she denies.
In his ruling, Marchan indicated he did not intend to impose a prison term, given concerns about immunity from criminal prosecution when sworn into office. Instead, he suggested that unconditional dismissal “appears to be the most viable solution.”
The decision follows last month's Marchan decision that the outcome of the hush-money case could withstand a new test of presidential immunity by the Supreme Court.
Mr. Trump could effectively appear in court for sentencing.
