WASHINGTON (Diya TV) – The US Supreme Court has declined to postpone Donald Trump’s sentencing and related gag order in his New York felony case involving hush money payments to a porn star. This ruling came despite a lawsuit from Missouri alleging voter rights violations under the US Constitution.
On Monday, the justices rejected Missouri’s request to delay Trump’s legal proceedings until after the upcoming presidential election. The Supreme Court’s order, which was unsigned, noted that conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito were open to Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filing the suit, though not to the extent of lifting the gag order or delaying sentencing.
Bailey, a Republican, argued that the New York gag order unfairly restricts what Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, can say on the campaign trail and could impact his ability to travel. “The actions by New York have created constitutional harms that threaten to infringe the rights of Missouri’s voters and electors,” he stated.
Typically, the Supreme Court handles appeals, but it can act as a trial court in conflicts between states. Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James argued that the appeals are progressing through state courts and that there is no state-on-state conflict warranting Supreme Court intervention. “Allowing Missouri to file this suit for such relief against New York would permit an extraordinary and dangerous end-run around former President Trump’s ongoing state court proceedings,” she wrote.
Trump was convicted in May of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence about an alleged sexual encounter before the 2016 election. Prosecutors claim the payment was intended to boost his presidential campaign, which ultimately saw him defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton. Trump denies the encounter and plans to appeal his conviction following his September sentencing.
Missouri Attorney General Bailey’s lawsuit, filed on July 3, aimed to pause Trump’s sentencing and the gag order issued by New York Judge Juan Merchan. Despite the Supreme Court’s denial, Trump’s legal team, including attorney David Gelman, remains optimistic. “It was a Hail Mary effort by the Missouri AG to get [the Supreme Court] to block the legal proceedings. That’s called thinking outside of the box,” Gelman commented.
Bailey, who is running for a full term as attorney general, expressed disappointment in the Supreme Court’s decision, criticizing the refusal to resolve the dispute. He continues to pursue legal action against what he views as coordinated prosecutions by the Biden administration against Trump.
Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts for falsifying business records marks a significant point in his legal battles. Bailey and Trump’s legal team allege political motives behind the prosecution, pointing to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James’s involvement in civil litigation against Trump as evidence of bias.
