New York court delays Trump verdict in porn star case until after election

A New York court announced on Friday that it would postpone the sentencing of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump until the end of next November to avoid affecting the presidential election scheduled for next November 5.

"This decision was not taken lightly by the court, but it is one that, in the court's opinion, best serves the interests of justice. Therefore, I hereby request that the date for the pronouncement of the sentence, if necessary, be set for November 26," Judge Juan Merchan said.

The judge also indicated that a decision on the lawyers' request to drop the indictment against the former president will be made on November 12.

A jury previously convicted Trump on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with paying two women, including porn star Stormy Daniels, to keep quiet about their alleged affairs , and the maximum possible sentence for the total charges against Trump is 136 years in prison.

For his part, the former president pleaded not guilty, stressing that there were no grounds to file the lawsuit. Trump believes that the prosecution is only politically motivated and related to his intention to compete for the presidency in 2024.

Prosecutors allege that Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels (real name Stephanie Clifford) $130,000 on the eve of his client's 2016 presidential election victory. The actress was allegedly paid to keep quiet about her affair with Trump, which Daniels said occurred in 2006 after they met at a celebrity golf tournament. Trump has denied the porn star's allegations.

After Trump became president, investigators say, he reimbursed Cohen for the expenses with checks labeled “legal fees.” The attorney general’s office believes this was how a scheme was carried out to “corrupt” the 2016 election.

A new U.S. Supreme Court ruling says the president is immune from prosecution for acts he takes in his official capacity , but some of the allegations against him may not fall within that definition. Trump’s lawyers are appealing the ruling.