The sentencing hearing for former President Donald Trump in his case of paying to conceal damaging information has been postponed until September after the judge agreed on Tuesday to consider the potential impact of a new federal Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.
Trump was scheduled to face his sentencing on July 11 for his guilty plea in New York on felony charges of falsifying financial records. The former president denies having committed any illegal actions.
The postponement sets the trial for September 18, long after the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to formally accept the party's nomination for the presidency in this year's election. The convention takes place from July 15 to 18.
A ruling issued by the Supreme Court on Monday granted broad immunity protections to presidents, while also restricting prosecutors from using any official act as evidence to try to prove that a president's unofficial actions violated the law.
Hours after it was issued, Trump's lawyer requested that New York Judge Juan M. Merchan overturn the jury's guilty verdict and delay the sentencing to consider how the ruling of the highest U.S. court could affect the case of payments to conceal information. He said he will make a statement on September 6th.
Manhattan prosecutors said on Tuesday that they would not oppose delaying the sentencing by at least two weeks.