Judge postpones Trump's 'hush money' sentencing

The judge overseeing Donald Trump's historic hush money trail has postponed his sentencing indefinitely as he considers arguments from the president-elect's legal team to close the case.

- ALEX WOODWARD

New York Justice Juan Merchan will hear legal briefs from Mr Trump's attorneys who claim that the conviction and sentencing of the president-elect will disrupt the “orderly transition of executive power” and be “uniquely destabilising” to the country.

Mr Trump’s sentencing date had been postponeded to 26 November 26. That date is now off the calendar. Instead, Judge Merchan has asked Mr Trump’s attorneys to file their arguments by 2 December, according to a filing in Manhattan criminal court yesterday. Prosecutors will have until 9 December to reply.

The judge also is not accepting any other reply briefs on the matter, meaning he could render a decision relatively quickly, despite the months of delays demanded by Mr Trump’s attorneys following the former president’s conviction on 34 felony counts on 30 May.