Hush money case: Donald Trump rants about lawfare as Supreme Court refuses to halt sentencing

President-elect Donald Trump unleashed a scathing critique of the US justice system after the Supreme Court rejected his last-minute attempt to delay his sentencing in a hush money case, calling the decision part of a politically motivated campaign against him.

“This was nothing other than weaponization of our justice system against a political opponent. It’s called lawfare, and nothing like this has ever happened in the United States of America,” Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday night, hours after the court’s 5-4 ruling.

The Supreme Court’s decision means Trump, 78, will be sentenced on Friday, January 10, for falsifying business records to conceal reimbursements for a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Justice Juan Merchan, who presided over the case, has indicated he will not impose a jail term. However, Trump’s legal team had argued he was entitled to a stay of sentencing while they pursued appeals and questioned whether presidents-elect are immune from criminal prosecution. The court declined to consider the matter.

“I appreciate the time and effort of the United States Supreme Court in trying to remedy the great injustice done to me by the highly conflicted ‘Acting Justice,’ who should not have been allowed to try this case,” Trump wrote. “Every legal scholar stated, unequivocally, that this is a case that should never have been brought. There was no case against me.”

Manhattan prosecutors had urged the court to deny Trump’s request, citing a “compelling public interest” in moving forward. In their ruling, the justices described Trump’s claims as insufficient to warrant intervention and said the burden of attending sentencing was “insubstantial.”

The former President, who is set to be sworn in again later this month, also lashed out at Justice Merchan. “This highly political and corrupt judge has put a gag order on me, which takes away my First Amendment right to speak about very important aspects of the case,” Trump charged.

Initially scheduled for July, the sentencing was delayed three times at Trump’s request. Last week, Merchan ruled there would be no further postponements. Trump’s attorneys filed a flurry of appeals, culminating in the Supreme Court rejecting the petition late on Thursday.

As Trump prepares for sentencing, he vowed to continue his fight. “For the sake and sanctity of the Presidency, I will be appealing this case and am confident that JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL,” he said.

Trump was convicted in the hush money case in May 2024. He is poised to be the first US President to take office convicted of crimes.

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