Judge Merchan suspends all deadlines in Trump case in New York based on election victory

Judge Juan Merchán suspended all deadlines in President-elect Donald Trump’s case in New York, including the sentencing date scheduled for the end of this month.

businessman granted a joint request from prosecutors and defense attorneys to stay the case until Nov. 19, delaying their decision on Trump’s motion to overturn the verdict based on presidential immunity, which he was previously scheduled to issue a ruling on Tuesday.

Merchan ordered prosecutors to present their opinion on the “appropriate steps forward” in a filing next week. Prosecutors required Merchan suspends proceedings to allow them to assess the impact of Trump’s election victory.

BREAKING: Judge Merchan granted a request from the prosecution and defense to suspend deadlines, including Trump’s sentencing date, while they consider the effect of his election as president. https://t.co/LaeJlAyTDi pic.twitter.com/SAHVbo3HbG

—Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) November 12, 2024

“The People agree that these are unprecedented circumstances and that the arguments raised by defense counsel in correspondence with the People on Friday require careful consideration to ensure that any additional steps in this proceeding appropriately balance the competing interests of ( 1) a guilty verdict by the jury after a trial that has a presumption of regularity; and (2) the Office of the President,” prosecutor Matthew Colangelo wrote in a Nov. 10 email to Merchan.

Trump’s defense attorneys joined the request, arguing that dismissal of the case is required to “prevent unconstitutional impediments to President Trump’s ability to govern.”

“At the request of the Manhattan District Attorney, Judge Merchan has postponed all previously scheduled deadlines, including sentencing in this case,” Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. “The American people have re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate to Make America Great Again. It is now very clear that Americans want to immediately end the militarization of our justice system, including this case, which should never have been brought, so that we can, as President Trump said in his historic victory speech, unify our country and work together. for the betterment of our nation.”

In the Trump election federal interference case, the judge also granted Special Counsel Jack Smith’s request to pause pending deadlines.

Multiple reports indicate the Department of Justice (DOJ) is already considering how to close your cases against Trump as he prepares to take office in January. Department of Justice policy prevents criminal prosecution of sitting presidents.