The Supreme Court of the United States on Monday rejected the state of Missouri‘s bid to postpone Donald Trump‘s upcoming sentencing for his felony convictions in New York related to hush money payments and declined to lift a gag order until after the presidential election on November 5th.
The top court’s order came in response to Missouri’s lawsuit asserting that the case against Trump violated the constitutional right of voters to receive information from the Republican presidential candidate as he pursues a return to the White House.
The Supreme Court’s order was unsigned. Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, signaled their willingness to consider Missouri’s case, however clarified that they “would not grant other relief.”
Trump was found guilty in May of falsifying business records to conceal a payment of $130,000 made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, in exchange for her silence regarding a sexual encounter she claimed to have had with Trump in the past, prior to the 2016 US election
According to prosecutors, the payment was intended to improve Trump‘s prospects in the 2016 election, where he defeated his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.
Trump, who is once again seeking the Republican nomination in the upcoming election, has consistently denied engaging in sexual relations with Daniels. He has expressed his intention to challenge the conviction following his sentencing, which is set to take place in September.
The Republican Attorney General of Missouri, Andrew Bailey on July 3 filed a lawsuit against the state of New York with the Supreme Court seeking to temporarily halt Trump’s upcoming sentencing and to lift the gag order imposed on him by New York state judge Juan Merchan.
In the criminal case against Trump, Bailey argued that it violated the constitutional rights of Missouri residents First Amendment to “hear from and vote for their preferred presidential candidate.”
“Instead of letting presidential candidates campaign on their own merits, radical progressives in New York are trying to rig the 2024 election by waging a direct attack on our democratic process,” Bailey said.
Several Republican attorneys general, representing the states of Florida, Iowa, Montana, and Alaska, have submitted a brief to the Supreme Court, backing the lawsuit initiated by Missouri.
Trump also faces criminal charges at both the federal and state levels, stemming from his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which he was defeated by Joe Biden.
(With inputs from agencies)
The top court’s order came in response to Missouri’s lawsuit asserting that the case against Trump violated the constitutional right of voters to receive information from the Republican presidential candidate as he pursues a return to the White House.
The Supreme Court’s order was unsigned. Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, signaled their willingness to consider Missouri’s case, however clarified that they “would not grant other relief.”
Trump was found guilty in May of falsifying business records to conceal a payment of $130,000 made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, in exchange for her silence regarding a sexual encounter she claimed to have had with Trump in the past, prior to the 2016 US election
According to prosecutors, the payment was intended to improve Trump‘s prospects in the 2016 election, where he defeated his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.
Trump, who is once again seeking the Republican nomination in the upcoming election, has consistently denied engaging in sexual relations with Daniels. He has expressed his intention to challenge the conviction following his sentencing, which is set to take place in September.
The Republican Attorney General of Missouri, Andrew Bailey on July 3 filed a lawsuit against the state of New York with the Supreme Court seeking to temporarily halt Trump’s upcoming sentencing and to lift the gag order imposed on him by New York state judge Juan Merchan.
In the criminal case against Trump, Bailey argued that it violated the constitutional rights of Missouri residents First Amendment to “hear from and vote for their preferred presidential candidate.”
“Instead of letting presidential candidates campaign on their own merits, radical progressives in New York are trying to rig the 2024 election by waging a direct attack on our democratic process,” Bailey said.
Several Republican attorneys general, representing the states of Florida, Iowa, Montana, and Alaska, have submitted a brief to the Supreme Court, backing the lawsuit initiated by Missouri.
Trump also faces criminal charges at both the federal and state levels, stemming from his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which he was defeated by Joe Biden.
(With inputs from agencies)
Source : Times of India
