Judge Merchan has said, he intends to sentence Trump on September 18, despite the defense’s efforts to delay the process. This date notably falls just two days after early voting begins in Pennsylvania for the 2024 election, underscoring the case’s potential impact on the presidential race.
Trump’s legal team has been working to postpone sentencing, citing a U.S. Supreme Court ruling from July 1. The ruling suggests that presidents, including former presidents, are presumptively immune from criminal prosecution for official acts taken during their tenure, and are absolutely immune if those acts are core constitutional duties of the presidency.
As expected, Judge Juan Merchan has once again denied former President Donald Trump’s motion for recusal in the ongoing case brought by Manhattan’s progressive Democratic District Attorney, Alvin Bragg. This case, which saw a jury in June find Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records, continues to proceed with significant attention.
The ruling also indicates that this immunity extends to evidence, meaning prosecutors cannot use official presidential acts to prove other crimes.
Despite these arguments, the New York prosecution against Trump appears driven by politics rather than justice. The prosecution has used some of Trump’s official acts to build their case, even calling two of his White House staffers as witnesses.
Trump’s lawyers have moved to have the guilty verdicts thrown out based on the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling and have again requested Judge Merchan’s recusal, particularly in light of Merchan’s daughter’s political work for Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now Trump’s Democratic opponent in the upcoming election.
Judge Merchan denied the recusal motion on Tuesday and indicated that he plans to rule on Trump’s immunity claim by August 16. He has also instructed the parties to prepare for sentencing on September 18, suggesting that he is unlikely to change his course. Merchan appears poised to deny Trump’s immunity motion and may even impose a prison sentence shortly thereafter.
Given Merchan’s actions and the broader political context, it seems that the New York prosecution of Trump is more about influencing the upcoming election than delivering justice. The goal appears to be labeling Trump as “a convicted felon sentenced to prison” just weeks before Election Day, a narrative that could sway voters in key battleground states like Pennsylvania.
I hope Treasonous politicians and judges are the only thing on freedom loving Americans minds. This kind of judge, should be held accountable to include being put to death for his abuse of power and act of Treason. Just my opinion.