Former President Donald Trump had been scheduled to be sentenced in his New York hush-money case on 18 September, just after his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Yet that changed late last week when the hearing was pushed back until after Americans have gone to the polls. 

Sentencing date set for November 26

According to the Associated Press, Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan issued a ruling that gave the former president a new sentencing date of November 26.

BREAKING: A judge delays Donald Trump’s sentencing in his hush money case until after the November presidential election. https://t.co/BATemGLZfQ

— The Associated Press (@AP) September 6, 2024

Merchan wrote that his ruling was meant "to avoid any appearance — however unwarranted — that the proceeding has been affected by or seeks to affect the approaching presidential election in which the Defendant is a candidate."

"The Court is a fair, impartial and apolitical institution" the judge declared before adding that his latest move "should dispel any suggestion" to the contrary.

Defense attorneys seeking to have conviction thrown out

However, the Associated Press pointed out that it remains unclear as to whether or not the former president will even be sentenced as well.

That's because Trump's defense attorneys are seeking to have his conviction thrown out on the grounds that it depended on evidence which should not have been admitted given the Supreme Court's ruling on Presidential immunity.

"Rather than wait for the Supreme Court’s guidance, the prosecutors scoffed with hubris at President Trump’s immunity motions and insisted on rushing to trial," lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove wrote in a briefing.

Trump echoed those sentiments in a post on Truth Social, stating, "This case should be rightfully terminated, as we prepare for the Most Important Election in the History of our Country."

Federal judge rejects request to have case moved

Danielle Filson serves as a spokesperson for Democratic Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and she said that prosecutors stand by their handling of the case.

"A jury of 12 New Yorkers swiftly and unanimously convicted Donald Trump of 34 felony counts," the Associated Press quoted her as saying in a statement.

Meanwhile, the former president suffered a legal setback on Tuesday when a judge refused his request to have the case moved into the federal system.

U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein ruled that the hush-money case concerned "private, unofficial acts, outside the bounds of executive authority" and thus did not qualify to be transferred.