President-elect Donald Trump filed an emergency request with the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to halt a sentencing hearing in New York, arguing it would disrupt the presidential transition and harm national security. Trump’s defense team contends the sentencing, scheduled for Friday, undermines the institution of the presidency just days before his January 20 inauguration.
Trump was convicted in May 2024 on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made during the 2016 election. The charges, a Class E felony under New York law, carry a maximum sentence of four years in prison. However, Judge Juan Merchan has stated he does not intend to impose incarceration.
Trump’s legal team argues the case infringes on presidential immunity, asserting that forcing him to attend a sentencing hearing during the transition period poses a “constitutionally intolerable risk” to national security and governance. Merchan previously rejected this argument, ruling that the immunity doctrine does not apply since the alleged acts were unofficial and predated Trump’s presidency.
Merchan denied Trump’s request for a stay of the case pending appeal, prompting the petition to the Supreme Court. Trump’s lawyers argue that proceeding with sentencing would disrupt vital governmental operations during the transition and create unnecessary risks.
Federal prosecutors recently moved to dismiss two other criminal cases against Trump—one in Washington, D.C., related to election interference, and another in Florida concerning classified documents. Trump has consistently maintained that all charges against him are politically motivated.
The Supreme Court’s decision on whether to intervene could shape the final days of Trump’s transition back to the White House and mark a significant legal precedent for future cases involving former and sitting presidents.
