Trump seeks to delay hush money case sentencing until after election

WASHINGTON

Former US President Donald Trump is seeking to delay sentencing in his criminal hush money case until after the presidential election in November.

Trump attorneys argued in a letter to New York Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case, that the Sept. 18 sentencing date advances "naked election-interference objectives."

"Setting aside naked election-interference objectives, there is no valid countervailing reason for the Court to keep the current sentencing date on the calendar. There is no basis for continuing to rush.

"Accordingly, we respectfully request that any sentencing, if one is needed, be adjourned until after the Presidential election," attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove wrote.

Merchan previously agreed to delay sentencing once until September, at Trump's request, following a US Supreme Court's decision on presidential immunity.

Trump was convicted in May on 34 felony counts related to hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign.

He is the first US president to be convicted of felony criminal charges.