The sentence, which could range from a fine to prison – an unlikely hypothesis according to observers – should first have been pronounced on July 11 by judge Juan Merchan, but the magistrate agreed to postpone it for the first time. on September 18, then on November 26, that is to say in a week, in order to study new appeals from the defense lawyers.
The latter are now asking for “the suspension and dismissal (of the case) to prevent President Trump”, who will take office on January 20, “from being prevented from governing”.
On Tuesday, while the judge had not yet rendered his decision, Manhattan prosecutor Alvin Bragg, an elected Democrat, indicated that he would oppose an outright cancellation of the procedure, while believing that the freezing prosecutions “until the end of the presidential term” of the 47th President of the United States should be an option to “consider”. He therefore does not oppose a new referral.
Donald Trump’s team immediately saw it as a “total and definitive victory”, affirming that “this baseless trial is frozen” while the decision rests with judge Juan Merchan.
