USA Supreme Court: sentencing hearing against Trump takes place
The sentencing hearing against future US President Donald Trump in the New York hush money trial can take place this Friday as planned. This was decided by the Supreme Court in the US capital Washington, rejecting an emergency appeal by Trump's lawyers. The decision is a major defeat for the 78-year-old.
10.01.2025, 01:40
SDA
Trump wanted to do everything in his power to prevent the announcement from being made on Friday - ten days before the Republican is due to be sworn in as president again. Before he turned to the Supreme Court, the Republican had already failed with corresponding petitions at a lower level. However, the sentence is unlikely to have any direct impact on Trump's presidency - it is more of a symbolic nature.
The Supreme Court justices were divided: four conservative judges - Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh - would have granted the request, while the five-member majority of the court rejected it. The decision was also justified on the grounds that the sentencing was "relatively irrelevant" to Trump's duties as future president.
Trump faces no punishment after New York conviction
The judge responsible had already held out the prospect of an "unconditional discharge" last week. This form of conviction would not result in any further criminal consequences such as a prison sentence or fine, but would establish legal guilt - in accordance with the jury's guilty verdict.
The trial concerned the illegal concealment of 130,000 US dollars in hush money that Trump had paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels - with the aim of gaining advantages in the 2016 election campaign, according to the court's conviction. A jury in New York found Trump guilty of 34 charges at the end of May. It was the first time in the history of the United States that a former president was convicted of a criminal offense.
Trump defends himself against conviction
Trump considers the proceedings against him to be unlawful and is also trying to overturn the conviction. He is citing a decision by the Supreme Court, according to which US presidents enjoy extensive immunity for actions in office. However, the New York judge stated in December that the decision did not apply in this case, as the hush money payments in question took place before Trump's first presidency from 2017 to 2021. Furthermore, the payments were made as a private citizen.
However, the Supreme Court had also ruled at the time that official acts by US presidents may not be cited as evidence in criminal proceedings. This is likely to become an issue in appeal proceedings at the latest, which could end up before the Supreme Court again. Trump had shifted the majorities on the Supreme Court far to the right during his first term of office. Only three of the nine judges are now still assigned to the liberal camp. The court has often ruled in Trump's favor in this constellation of appointments.
