US Supreme Court Rejects Attempt To Delay Trump Sentencing

The US Supreme Court on Monday rejected US state Missouri's bid to delay Donald Trump's upcoming sentencing for his felony conviction in New York over hush money payments. 

The justices also left a related gag order in effect until after the 5 November presidential election. Missouri's lawsuit claimed the case against Trump infringed on voters' rights to hear from the Republican presidential nominee as he campaigns to regain the White House.

The Supreme Court's order was unsigned, but conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito noted they would have taken up Missouri's case, though they "would not grant other relief." 

In May, Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records to cover up a USD 130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Prosecutors argued the payment was meant to bolster Trump's chances in the 2016 election. Trump, who denies the sexual encounter, plans to appeal the conviction after his September sentencing.

Missouri's Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed the lawsuit on 3 July, seeking to pause both the sentencing and the gag order imposed by New York state judge Juan Merchan. Bailey argued that the criminal case violated Missouri residents' First Amendment rights to hear from and vote for their preferred candidate. Republican attorneys general from Florida, Iowa, Montana and Alaska supported Missouri's lawsuit.

The Supreme Court's 1 July ruling, powered by its 6-3 conservative majority, granted Trump substantial criminal immunity for actions taken while in office, making it unlikely he will face trial in the federal election subversion case before the election. 

Trump's lawyers have invoked this ruling in an attempt to overturn the hush money verdict, arguing that social media posts from 2018, when Trump was president, should be considered official communications. Judge Merchan will rule on these arguments by 6 September, with sentencing set for 18 September if the conviction is upheld.

A New York state appeals court last week rejected Trump's challenge to his gag order, meaning Trump cannot publicly comment on individual prosecutors and others involved in the case until his sentencing. Trump has labeled all criminal cases against him as politically motivated.

(Inputs from Reuters)