“Last Hurdle” Before Trump’s Sentencing May Have Been Hinted at by Judge, Says Former Prosecutor
As Donald Trump’s sentencing approaches next month, there remains one significant “hurdle” that could potentially delay the proceedings, according to former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner. On Sunday, Kirschner discussed how the resolution of this obstacle may have been subtly hinted at by the presiding judge, Juan Merchan.
Trump, who was convicted on 34 felony counts related to a scheme to influence the 2016 election by concealing “hush money” payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels, is scheduled for sentencing on September 18. However, a motion to dismiss the case based on a recent Supreme Court decision regarding presidential immunity could complicate the process, told Raw Story.
Kirschner explained that the motion Trump filed could be the last potential impediment to his sentencing. “There is one last hurdle that Lady Justice has to jump in order for Donald Trump to be sentenced,” Kirschner remarked. This “hurdle,” as Kirschner described it, is the motion to “set aside” the conviction, which Trump’s legal team is pushing in light of the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling. The decision on this motion is expected on September 16, just two days before the scheduled sentencing.
While the outcome of the motion remains uncertain, Kirschner pointed out that Judge Merchan may have given a clue about how things will unfold. In a recent letter, Merchan indicated that the sentencing date “remains unchanged,” regardless of the pending motion.
Kirschner interpreted this as more than just a procedural note, suggesting that it might be an “Easter egg” or a subtle hint from the judge. “We will proceed on that date and time to the imposition of sentence or other proceedings as appropriate,” Merchan wrote, reinforcing the expectation that the September 18 date is firm.
Kirschner believes this statement could indicate that, even if Trump’s motion is considered, it may not prevent the sentencing from going forward as planned. “Please keep these dates in mind if you still wish to file a pre-sentence recommendation,” Merchan added, further suggesting that the court is preparing to move ahead.
As the legal community and the public await the resolution of this motion, all eyes will be on September 16 to see whether this final “hurdle” will indeed affect Trump’s sentencing or if it will be swiftly cleared, allowing the court to proceed with imposing the sentence on September 18.