### Sentencing in Trump's Hush-Money Case Delayed Indefinitely Amid Legal Disputes

The sentencing of former President Donald Trump in his Manhattan criminal hush-money case has been postponed indefinitely as legal teams on both sides engage in intense debates about the case's future following his victory in the 2024 presidential election. Judge Juan Merchan, overseeing the case, issued a one-page order on Friday but did not set a new sentencing date.

Judge Merchan outlined that Trump's legal team has until December 2 to file their argument for dismissal. Manhattan prosecutors will have one week to counter the motion. This development follows recent legal filings subsequent to Trump's election win over Kamala Harris.

On Tuesday, Trump's attorneys argued for the dismissal of the case, stating it was essential to "facilitate the orderly transition of executive power." Todd Blanche, Trump's lead attorney and choice for deputy U.S. attorney general, alongside Emil Bove, the president-elect's nominee for principal associate deputy attorney general, criticized the Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg's team for not moving to dismiss what they termed a "politically motivated and fatally flawed case."

The defense pointed out that the U.S. justice department was about to dismiss Trump's federal cases, referencing a departmental memo that protects sitting presidents from prosecution. They argued that Trump, as president-elect, should be granted similar immunity to prevent any disruption to the governmental operations.

Prosecutors are prepared to challenge Trump's anticipated push for dismissal and have requested that all other case proceedings be paused until a decision is made regarding the dismissal argument. They contended that current laws do not require the dismissal of post-trial criminal proceedings initiated while the defendant was still eligible for prosecution based on unofficial conduct.

The prosecution highlighted the need to balance the constitutional interests of both the executive and judicial branches. They proposed deferring all remaining criminal proceedings until after Trump’s presidential term as a possible alternative to outright dismissal.

Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts for falsifying business records related to payments intended to influence the 2016 election. Prosecutors revealed that Trump falsely recorded reimbursements to his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, who paid $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels to secure her silence about an alleged affair with Trump as "legal expenses." This case marked an unprecedented moment in U.S. history, being the first time a former or sitting president faced and was convicted in a criminal trial.