Missouri AG asks Supreme Court to delay Trump's sentencing in New York

By 
 July 25, 2024

Former President Donald Trump was found guilty in New York this past March on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

Yet in an unexpected twist, one Republican-led state is asking the Supreme Court to block Trump's sentencing. 

Sentencing hearing for Trump was moved to September 18

According to The Hill, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a lawsuit against New York asking that America's highest judicial body lift a gag order Trump is subject to as well as push his sentencing date back until after this year's upcoming presidential election.

While Trump was originally set to be sentenced on July 11, Judge Juan Merchan later rescheduled the hearing for September 18.

Merchan's decision came after Trump's defense team moved to have his conviction overturned, citing a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.

In his lawsuit, Bailey argues that the case involves an interstate conflict, thus providing the Supreme Court with jurisdiction to hear it.

Suit alleges that prosecution was politically motivated, judge acting improperly

Missouri's attorney general maintains that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicted Trump over his payment of hush-money adult film star Stormy Daniels as part of an effort to "boost Joe Biden’s campaign and keep Trump out of the White House."

He further asserts that Bragg's campaign pledge to go after Trump exposed the partisan nature of the district attorney's actions.

What's more, Bailey also took aim at Merchan, saying that the judge violated ethics rules by presiding over Trump's case despite having donated money to Biden's 2020 campaign.

"I will not sit idly by while Soros-backed prosecutors hold Missouri voters hostage in this presidential election," Bailey said in a statement to The Hill.

The Republican attorney general further explained that he is "filing suit to ensure every Missourian can exercise their right to hear from and vote for their preferred presidential candidate."

New York AG slams Bailey's lawsuit as being "dangerous" and "unmeritorious"

Meanwhile, The Hill reported on Wednesday that New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a motion asking that the Supreme Court dismiss Bailey's suit.

"Missouri's suit is based entirely on an ongoing criminal case between the Manhattan DA and former President Trump and does not present an actual controversy between sovereign States," the motion read.

"Missouri's requested relief also seriously undermines the integrity of the courts and risks setting a dangerous precedent that encourages a flood of similar, unmeritorious litigation," it went on to add.

" A free people [claim] their rights, as derived from the laws of nature."
Thomas Jefferson