In a recent development in the legal proceedings against former President Donald Trump, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's prosecution is set to proceed despite motions for recusal made by the defense team. The case involves Trump being found guilty on 34 counts of business-records falsification in early June.

The presiding Judge, Juan Merchan, has signaled his intention to sentence Trump on September 18, just two days after early voting begins in Pennsylvania for the 2024 election. This decision comes as a surprise to many, given the defense team's efforts to stall sentencing.

The defense team's ammunition lies in a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. In early July, the court held that presidents, including former presidents, are presumptively immune from criminal prosecution for any official acts taken as president. The immunity extends not only to charges but also to evidence. This means that prosecutors are barred from using official presidential acts as proof to establish other crimes.

However, the New York prosecution against Trump has been criticized for being politically motivated rather than a pursuit of justice. The use of some of Trump's official acts as evidence in the case has raised concerns about the validity of the prosecution.

Following the Supreme Court's ruling, Trump's lawyers moved to have the guilty verdicts thrown out. They also argued for Judge Merchan's recusal, citing his daughter's lucrative political work for Vice President Kamala Harris. However, Judge Merchan recently denied the recusal motion, indicating his intention to rule on Trump's immunity claim by August 16. He also instructed both parties to prepare for sentencing on September 18.

Legal experts suggest that Judge Merchan's decision to proceed with sentencing despite the immunity claim indicates his intention to deny Trump's immunity motion. Furthermore, there is a high likelihood that a prison sentence will be imposed on Trump following his conviction.

Judge Merchan's refusal to vacate the verdict or recuse himself despite having ample time to consider the Supreme Court's immunity decision and Trump's subsequent brief suggests a firm stance. It is expected that he will rule in favor of Bragg's prosecution and impose a sentence on Trump.

The objective of this prosecution appears to be political, aiming to label Trump as a convicted felon sentenced to prison just weeks before the 2024 election. Despite the potential for appeals and the likelihood of bail pending appeal, the prosecution serves to tarnish Trump's reputation in the eyes of voters.

As the sentencing date approaches, legal experts and political observers are closely monitoring the developments in this high-profile case. The outcome will have significant implications for both the legal system and the political landscape leading up to the 2024 election.