The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has urged the US Supreme Court not to halt Donald Trump’s Friday sentencing in his “hush money” case — saying there is “no basis” for the top court to step in.
DA Alvin Bragg’s filing comes a day after Trump’s lawyers demanded that the justices freeze the proceeding that would cement Trump’s status as the first-ever convicted felon to be elected president.
Bragg’s office noted that it would be an “extraordinary step” for the nation’s top court to scuttle Trump’s sentencing — which will kick off the president-elect’s promised process of appealing the jury’s guilty verdict.
“There is no basis for such intervention,” prosecutors wrote in a 44-page filing.
Trump’s lawyers also asked New York’s top appeals court to scuttle the proceeding late Wednesday — but were swiftly denied Thursday morning, court records show.
A Manhattan jury found Trump guilty in May 2024 of lying on company files to cover up a payment — made on the eve of the 2016 presidential election — meant to silence porn star Stormy Daniels’ story about having sex with a married Trump years earlier.
The trial judge, Juan Merchan, has agreed to Trump’s requests to delay sentencing, which was originally set for July 11, 2024, several times since then.
Merchan has said he plans to give Trump the most lenient possible sentence Friday of an “unconditional discharge” — meaning no jail time, fine or probation.
He’s also argued that it’s in the public’s best interest to bring closure to the case before Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
Trump’s lawyers argue that pressing on with the sentencing unconstitutionally interferes with Trump’s preparations for his second term.
The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling on Trump’s last-minute bid to “stay” Friday’s sentencing by the end of the day.
