An appeals court has denied President-elect Donald Trump’s second request to postpone sentencing in his hush money case, keeping the proceedings on track for Friday.
Judge Ellen Gesmer, of New York’s mid-level appellate court, issued a brief, one-sentence ruling on Tuesday, rejecting Trump’s attempt to delay sentencing indefinitely while he appeals the verdict. This follows a similar rejection on Monday by trial judge Juan M. Merchan.
During an emergency hearing earlier in the day, Gesmer questioned arguments presented by Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, who claimed that as president-elect, Trump is entitled to immunity akin to that of a sitting president. Gesmer challenged the assertion, asking, “Do you have any precedent supporting presidential-elect immunity?” Blanche acknowledged that no such precedent exists.
Prosecutor Steven Wu countered the immunity claim, emphasizing the constitutional principle of “one president at a time,” as Trump prepares to assume office on January 20.
Blanche argued that proceeding with sentencing risks disrupting the presidential transition, which he described as vital to national security and the country’s interests. However, both Judge Merchan and Judge Gesmer dismissed these concerns.
Despite Tuesday’s setback, Trump’s legal team is expected to pursue further appeals, potentially escalating the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court. For now, sentencing remains scheduled for Friday.
