The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday denied President-elect Donald Trump’s request to delay his sentencing in the hush-money case, ruling in a 5-4 decision.
Trump had asked the court to block the sentencing scheduled for Friday, but the justices concluded that the impact of sentencing on his presidential duties was minimal.
The court also highlighted that Trump could attend the hearing virtually.
Trump’s sentencing in Manhattan will take place on Friday morning after a New York jury convicted him in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
The former president-elect, who is set to be inaugurated on January 20, is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and will be the first convicted felon to serve in the White House.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case, calling him a “highly political and corrupt judge.” Trump also reiterated his innocence and vowed to continue appealing the verdict.
Trump’s legal team had argued that proceeding with sentencing would constitute a “grave injustice” and harm the presidency.
They also claimed that a president-elect should be granted the same immunity as a sitting president.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg dismissed these claims, stating that Trump was a private citizen when convicted and emphasizing that the Supreme Court had no jurisdiction over state court proceedings.
The Supreme Court’s decision allows the sentencing to proceed as scheduled but affirmed that Trump could still pursue appeals in New York state courts.
Judge Merchan is expected to impose an “unconditional discharge,” which would not involve jail time, probation, or a fine. Despite the possibility of up to four years in prison, experts do not anticipate Trump will face incarceration.
Trump’s conviction marks a significant legal challenge as he prepares for his second term in office, following his win in the 2024 election.