“Trying to Uphold the Rule of Law”: Judge Merchan Denies Trump’s Request to Delay Sentencing

Judge Juan Merchan denied President-elect Donald Trump’s request to delay his sentencing in the New York fraud trial related to hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election. The decision has been described as a “bold” move by former FBI general counsel and Justice Department prosecutor Andrew Weissmann.

Weissmann praised Merchan’s decision during an interview with MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace, saying the judge had “very limited options” in response to Trump’s motion. “It was basically trying everything now or putting everything off for four years because… there is this temporary presidential immunity while someone is president,” Weissmann explained.

He added that Merchan’s ruling reflects a commitment to “upholding the rule of law.” Weissmann speculated that Trump’s legal team is working to avoid any negative developments before the January 20 inauguration. “I think, bad news for the president-elect,” said Weissmann.

“What he is trying to do is put things off, and even though Judge Merchan has said, ‘I will not issue a stay,’ President-elect Donald Trump said he is going to the public courts to say, ‘You should now reverse that, and you should now issue a stay so that the sentencing does not go forward on Friday.’”

Merchan’s ruling also addressed the conduct of Trump’s legal team, including Todd Blanche, criticizing their rhetoric. Weissmann noted that Merchan took Trump’s lawyers “to task” and cited both Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Chief Justice John Roberts in the decision, underscoring the importance of maintaining the rule of law.

“This really undermines the rule of law,” Weissmann said, paraphrasing Merchan’s remarks. The trial judge’s pointed criticism of Trump’s attorneys could have broader implications, Weissmann suggested, especially for those proposed to lead the Justice Department under Trump’s administration. “When you think that the people who are being proposed to run the Justice Department now have, as part of the record here, the trial judge saying you kind of went over the line,” Weissmann concluded.

The sentencing, set for Friday, will proceed despite Trump’s attempts to delay it. Merchants’ decision reflects the judiciary’s resistance to political pressures and emphasizes the principle that no individual, including the president-elect, is above the law.