Legal Hurdles for Trump Just Days Ahead of Inauguration
In a significant setback for former President Donald Trump, the New York Court of Appeals has rejected his request to delay the sentencing hearing related to the Stormy Daniels case, which is scheduled for this Friday. The reading of the sentence pertains to allegations of bribery involving Stephanie Clifford, better known as Stormy Daniels, intended to prevent her from disclosing an alleged infidelity by Trump prior to his election.
Trump's defense team had filed a request on Wednesday, urging the Supreme Court to intervene and block the proceedings concerning these charges. This marks a continuation of legal issues for Trump, who was already convicted in May after it was determined that he sought to conceal a $130,000 payment made to Daniels to silence her about an extramarital affair during the heated 2016 presidential campaign.
Prosecutors have rebuffed Trump's lawyers' claims that revealing the conviction before the inauguration on January 20 could disrupt a smooth transfer of presidential power. They insist on Trump's presence at the upcoming hearing, asserting that his arguments lack substantiation. As per their statement relayed by CNN, they remarked, "The defendant has provided no documentary support for his assertion that his obligations as president-elect prevent him from virtually attending a hearing that will likely not last more than an hour."
In conjunction with this, Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the case, has also denied the request from Trump to postpone the sentencing. This legal controversy unfolds as Trump prepares for his inaugural events, marking a tumultuous period that intertwines his political aspirations with his judicial challenges.
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