- President-elect Donald Trump starts presidential duties by paying his respects to former President at Capitol Rotunda
- Sheinbaum mocks Trump over Gulf of Mexico and instead proposes changing the name of the United States
In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled 5-4 to allow the sentencing of President-elect Donald Trump in his hush money case to proceed on Friday. This ruling follows Trump's request for an emergency delay, which he argued was necessary to avoid interference with his transition to power.
The case revolves around Trump's conviction for falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The payment was intended to prevent Daniels from speaking out about an alleged affair with Trump before the 2016 election, an affair Trump has consistently denied.
The Supreme Court's decision was notably split, with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett ing the court's three liberal justices to reject Trump's request. The majority opinion stated that the burden of sentencing on Trump's responsibilities was "relatively insubstantial," especially since the trial court indicated no penalties or prison time would be imposed.
Trump's legal team had argued that the case should be delayed due to potential impacts on national security and the presidential transition. However, the court noted that these concerns could be addressed through the regular appeals process. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Friday at 9:30 a.m. in Manhattan. Trump, who will be inaugurated for his second term on January 20, plans to attend the hearing virtually.
The President-elect once again is denied
That was not all in a tough day for Donal Trump, as a federal appeals court has denied an emergency bid to block the public release of special counsel Jack Smith's report on President-elect Donald Trump's efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the challenge from Trump and his co-defendants, who argued that the report was one-sided and prejudicial. The report, which details Smith's findings on Trump's actions related to the 2020 election, will not be immediately released due to a temporary block by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon.
The Justice Department plans to release the volume on election interference but will withhold the section on Trump's classified documents case while legal proceedings against his co-defendants are ongoing.
This decision underscores the ongoing legal battles surrounding Trump as he prepares to take office again. The public release of the report could provide further insights into the investigations that have shaped the political landscape in recent years.