US Supreme Court declines to halt Trump’s sentencing in hush money case
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Former US president Donald Trump denies having had sex with porn star Stormy Daniels and has vowed to appeal his conviction after his sentencing.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
WASHINGTON – The US Supreme Court on Aug 5 rejected a bid by the state of Missouri to halt Donald Trump’s upcoming sentencing for his conviction in New York on felony charges involving hush money paid to a porn star and left a related gag order until after the Nov 5 presidential election.
The decision by the justices came in response to a lawsuit by the state of Missouri claiming that the case against Trump infringed on the right of voters under the US Constitution to hear from the Republican presidential nominee as he seeks to regain the White House.
The Supreme Court’s order was unsigned. Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito indicated they would have heard Missouri’s case.
Trump was found guilty in May of falsifying business records to cover up a US$130,000 (S$172,000) payment
Prosecutors have said the payment was designed to boost his presidential campaign in 2016, when he defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Trump, the Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential election, denies having had sex with Ms Daniels and has vowed to appeal his conviction after his sentencing, scheduled for September.
Missouri’s Republican Attorney-General Andrew Bailey filed a July 3 lawsuit against New York state, asking the Supreme Court to pause Trump’s impending sentencing and the gag order placed on him by New York state Judge Juan Merchan. REUTERS
