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Prosecutors' Move in Trump's Hush Money Case on Tuesday

Prosecutors' Move in Trump's Hush Money Case on Tuesday
Prosecutors in Donald Trump’s hush money case are set to take a significant step on Tuesday. This comes after his victory in the 2024 election and amid a series of other criminal cases facing delays. Special Counsel Jack Smith, overseeing two federal cases against the president-elect, is expected to resign before Inauguration Day, leaving the legal landscape in a state of flux.

Unraveling the Legal Tangle Surrounding Trump's Hush Money Case

Background of the Hush Money Case

In May, Trump became the first former U.S. president to be criminally convicted when he was found guilty in the hush money case. This came after multiple delays due to tactics by his legal team and a Supreme Court ruling in June. The ruling stated that former presidents have some immunity from criminal prosecution for "official" actions.Since then, the case has faced further delays as Trump won the election. Judge Juan Merchan has delayed the decision on whether to throw out the president-elect's conviction until 19 November on presidential immunity grounds. He has also postponed Trump's sentencing until 26 November to avoid any appearance of influencing the approaching presidential election.Trump was originally scheduled to be sentenced on 10 July.

Other Criminal Cases and Their Delays

Three other criminal cases involving Trump are also facing delays following his election victory. These include the classified documents case and state and federal cases where he is accused of election interference. Prosecutors had hoped to take these cases to trial before Election Day, but the delays have dashed their hopes.Trump denies wrongdoing in all these cases and claims they are part of a political witch hunt.

What to Expect from Tuesday's Paperwork

The upcoming paperwork is expected to reveal whether the conviction against Trump will be thrown out or if he will be sentenced in the case. If prosecutors agree with the defense, they could present a united front to the trial judge, who could then vacate the verdict or dismiss the indictment in its entirety.However, if prosecutors decide not to give up, it will be up to Judge Merchan to break the impasse. Trump faces up to four years in prison and a ,000 fine for each of the 34 felony counts. But it is unlikely he will face jail time, and any sentence handed down in the next two months would likely be stayed as he appeals.

Details of the Conviction

Trump has been convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to conceal hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. The payments were meant to silence her about an alleged 2006 sexual encounter.Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office argued that the falsifications were to cover up Trump's violation of New York state election law, which prohibits illegal methods to influence elections. The 0,000 payment to Daniels was considered an illicit campaign contribution exceeding the individual limit.Trump has firmly denied all the charges against him.

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