New York prosecutors in Donald Trump’s money-hiding case oppose dismissal but agree to pause in sentencing

NEW YORK — Prosecutors in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday they will oppose President-elect Trump’s attempt to have his New York criminal conviction thrown out, but they also told a judge they do not oppose a stay of the case.

The district attorney’s office has proposed postponing all remaining proceedings in the case, including the Nov. 26 sentencing, until Trump leaves the White House in 2029.

“Given the need to balance competing constitutional interests, it is necessary to consider various non-dismissal options that may address any concerns raised by the continuation of post-trial criminal proceedings during the presidency, such as postponing all remaining criminal proceedings until the end of the defendant’s upcoming presidential term,” prosecutors wrote in a letter to the judge.

“The people have deep respect for the Office of the President, are mindful of the demands and responsibilities of the President, and recognize that the inauguration of the defendant will raise unprecedented legal issues. We also deeply respect the fundamental role of juries in our constitutional system.”

Judge Juan Merchan has the final say on the next step in the case and has yet to issue an opinion.

“This is a complete and final victory for President Trump and the American people who elected him by a landslide. Manhattan prosecutors have acknowledged that this witch hunt cannot continue. The unlawful case is now on hold and President Trump’s legal team is trying to get it dismissed once and for all,” Trump spokesman Stephen Cheung said.

Since July, Trump’s lawyers have been pushing to overturn the conviction and dismiss the case, arguing that prosecutors filled “glaring holes in their case” with evidence of official acts the scope of which the Supreme Court recently ruled out in its landmark decision on presidential immunity.

Trump’s lawyers also argued for dismissal, citing the 1963 Presidential Transition Act, which calls on government officials to take “lawful steps to avoid or minimize disruption” to the presidential transition.

Although prosecutors have argued that the Supreme Court’s ruling that Trump is entitled to immunity from prosecution for official acts committed while in office has nothing to do with Trump’s conviction, they have not publicly indicated their position on the upcoming sentencing after Trump’s election.

Prosecutors asked for more time to advise the court on “appropriate next steps” based on the implications of Trump’s victory.

“People agree that these are unprecedented circumstances,” prosecutor Matthew Colangelo told the court last week.

After a joint request for more time, Judge Merchan delayed his ruling on how the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity would affect the Trump case, which he had originally planned to release last week.

In May, Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records related to paying hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to silence allegations of a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006 to boost his presidential prospects. 2016.

His conviction carries a maximum penalty of four years’ imprisonment, but first-time offenders typically receive a lesser sentence.

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