The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected Donald Trump’s request in the New York bribery case by a vote of 5–4, thus allowing the case against the president-elect to proceed.
This decision comes just days before his second inauguration at the White House. Trump’s request to delay the sentencing was denied, enabling the legal process to continue as scheduled.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the liberal justices in rejecting Trump’s emergency appeal. In contrast, conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented.
The Court ruled that the objections raised by Trump could be addressed during the appeals process, describing the implications of the conviction as “relatively insubstantial,” since no sanction or prison sentence is currently expected, according to CNN.
The case stems from Donald Trump’s conviction in May 2024 for falsifying commercial documents. Specifically, he arranged reimbursements to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The payment was allegedly made to prevent Daniels from disclosing an affair she claimed to have had with Trump before the 2016 presidential election, an allegation Trump has consistently denied.
Trump argued that the conviction should be overturned, citing a recent Supreme Court decision granting limited immunity to former presidents for their official acts. However, New York Judge Juan Merchan ruled in December that the evidence in the case was unrelated to Trump’s presidential duties.
Trump’s legal team contended that his presence at the sentencing could disrupt his transition efforts and jeopardize national security. They described the procedure as “particularly burdensome and restrictive.” However, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg dismissed this argument, emphasizing the public interest in proceeding with the case and noting that the virtual hearing would likely last no more than an hour.
According to CNN, the Supreme Court’s decision has also sparked ethical concerns following revelations of a phone call between Justice Alito and Trump earlier in the week. Democratic lawmakers called for Justice Alito’s recusal, citing the timing of the conversation. However, Alito maintained that the call had no connection to the conviction case or any related matters.
After his inauguration on January 20, Donald Trump will become the first U.S. president to be convicted by a criminal court. He is also the first president to face such an extensive number of lawsuits across various cases. Nevertheless, this appears to have had little impact on his electoral support, as the majority of Americans voted for him in the November 6, 2024, election.
