November 12, 2024
In a significant legal development, Judge Juan Merchan has granted a stay on all impending deadlines associated with President-elect Donald Trump’s Manhattan trial, allowing Trump to avoid a potential four-year prison sentence before he assumes office. This ruling halts proceedings in his 34-count conviction of falsifying business records, stemming from a case involving payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
The stay, which impacts the Nov. 26 sentencing date, allows Judge Merchan to examine how Trump’s presidential immunity may affect the case. Trump’s legal team has also filed a motion to vacate the charges, citing presidential immunity as upheld in a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Supreme Court Ruling on Presidential Immunity
In July, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that sitting presidents enjoy presumptive immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken within their core constitutional powers. Although the ruling directly pertains to federal cases, Trump’s legal team argues that it should influence state convictions as well, a question that has yet to be tested in court. This adds a unique dimension to Judge Merchan’s decision, with implications that could extend to future cases involving state-level charges against sitting presidents.
Trump’s Legal Strategy Moving Forward
Trump’s legal team is reportedly exploring multiple avenues to have the charges dismissed or reduced. One approach is moving the case from state to federal court, a request previously denied but potentially bolstered now by Trump’s status as president-elect. If that strategy is unsuccessful, Trump’s attorneys are expected to appeal the convictions, arguing that the Supreme Court’s stance on immunity should apply.
Andrew McCarthy, a former federal prosecutor, explained that the prospect of prison time is unlikely even if convictions were upheld. “Though the charges are felonies, they are not sufficiently serious under New York law to merit immediate detention; Trump will get bail pending appeal,” he wrote in a Fox News op-ed.
The Political and Legal Impact of the Stay
The decision to pause proceedings underscores ongoing debates about presidential immunity and prosecutorial boundaries. Judge Merchan’s ruling arrives amid broader scrutiny of the justice system, with former Attorney General Bill Barr recently urging state and local prosecutors to avoid the “spectacle” of prosecuting the president-elect. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office brought the case, has yet to indicate whether he plans to pursue further guidance on prosecuting Trump as a sitting president.
The stay also parallels developments in Trump’s other legal cases. Special Counsel Jack Smith recently moved to vacate deadlines in a separate federal case involving allegations of 2020 election interference, signaling that some federal investigations could be postponed or possibly dropped as Trump prepares to enter office.
Next Steps for Trump and the DOJ
As Trump’s legal team maneuvers through state and federal legal challenges, his case could further define the boundaries of presidential immunity. Meanwhile, Judge Merchan’s self-imposed Nov. 12 deadline allows time to deliberate on the potential application of federal immunity to state cases, a question with high-stakes implications for Trump’s upcoming presidency.
With Trump shielded from federal convictions under Department of Justice policy that protects sitting presidents, the scope of Judge Merchan’s authority to enforce state-level charges remains uncharted territory.
Sources:
- Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, July 1, 2023.
- Statements from former Attorney General Bill Barr, Fox News Digital.
- Analysis by Andrew McCarthy, Fox News.
- Special Counsel Jack Smith’s motion to vacate deadlines, November 2024.
