Some political commentators believe that they know why New York Justice Judge Merchan has decided to postpone his sentencing of former President Donald Trump. 

The answer was suggested, among others, by Fox News' Karl Rove.

Rove believes that Merchan postponed the sentencing because the judge realized that sentencing Trump now would only help him out in the upcoming presidential election.

If true, then this would lend credence to those who are claiming that this case against Trump is purely political.

Background

This regards the so-called hush-money case that George Soros-linked Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has brought against Trump. Trump has already been found guilty, and he has been waiting for months to know what his punishment will be - including whether he could see prison time.

Merchan has delayed sentencing not once but twice. Just the News reports, "Merchan initially set the sentencing date for July 11, but delayed it until Sept. 18, before again postponing proceedings." Now, the sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 26. 2024.

The big question, of course, is why the delay. Here is what Trump, in part, has had to say about it:

The Manhattan D.A. Witch Hunt has been postponed because everyone realizes that there was NO CASE, I DID NOTHING WRONG! It is a political attack against me by Comrade Kamala Harris and other Radical Left Opponents for purposes of Election Interference, and is a case that should have never been brought. Nothing like this has ever happened in the United States of America – IT IS STRICTLY THIRD WORLD, BANANA REPUBLIC “STUFF.” Importantly, The Public understands this, and so does every Legal Scholar . .

Suffice it to say that many agree - including individuals who are opposed to Trump and his politics.

But, some believe that there is more to Merchan's decision.

"It would have . . . served the interest of Trump"

Rove, on Friday, expressed his opinion that Merchan's decision to postpone sentencing had a political explanation behind it.

"I also agree with the notion that was offered up by several other of your comment- your analysts. And that is that if [Merchan] had gone forward with this, it would have, ironically enough, served the interest of Donald Trump," Rove said.

Rove went on to note that, much to the dismay of Democrats, the prosecutions of Trump have only served to help the former president.

Rove said:

Donald Trump has risen in the polls the more the people have reacted negatively to his treatment in the courtroom. And if the judge had gone ahead with this, it could have easily been the October surprise. That is to say, he [Merchan] would have, potentially gone after Donald Trump in his verdict and the reaction of the American people might have been wholly negative on it and helped advance the cause of Donald Trump in the election.

There is little doubt that Rove is right about this one. If Merchan and the Democrats thought sentencing Trump to prison before the election would help their cause, Merchan would have done so.