The Supreme Court, in a close 5-4 decision on Thursday, rejected Donald Trump’s desperate attempt to block his criminal sentencing. This decision ends Trump’s final bid to escape accountability for his 34 felony convictions in New York.
Trump’s sentencing, set for Friday morning, will make him the first convicted felon to assume the presidency. Judge Juan Merchan is expected to issue an “unconditional discharge,” a rare sentence with no prison time or probation but which leaves Trump officially branded a convicted felon. Trump can attend the hearing virtually.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court’s three liberal justices in denying Trump’s request. However, Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented, once again demonstrating their unwavering loyalty to Trump. These four justices have consistently shielded Trump from accountability throughout his legal battles, prioritizing his interests over the principles of justice.
In its order, the majority explained that Trump’s claims of trial errors could be addressed later through the normal appeals process. The court also noted that the sentencing would not significantly disrupt Trump’s duties as president-elect, given the brief virtual hearing and lack of punishment beyond the formal conviction.
Speaking at Mar-a-Lago shortly after the ruling, Trump acknowledged the court’s decision. “I read it, and I thought it was fair. I’ll handle this tomorrow, and they can enjoy their political games,” he said.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office declined to comment, but the Supreme Court’s decision marks the end of Trump’s relentless efforts to avoid sentencing. Since his May conviction for falsifying business records in a scheme to hide hush money payments during the 2016 campaign, Trump has delayed proceedings multiple times. After his election victory, he even argued that, as president-elect, he deserved immunity from prosecution.
Judge Merchan dismissed these arguments earlier this week, scheduling sentencing for Friday to finalize the case before Trump’s inauguration. Despite the leniency of the sentence, Trump’s attorneys filed numerous appeals, claiming that labeling him a felon could lead to unconstitutional restrictions on his presidential duties.
Prosecutors opposed the delays, emphasizing the lack of legal basis for Trump’s arguments and the public’s interest in concluding the case. They noted that the virtual hearing would impose minimal burden on Trump.
The case centers on Trump’s conviction for falsifying business records to hide payments to silence a former adult film actress during the 2016 election. Trump has denied the allegations, but the jury unanimously found him guilty based on the evidence presented.
Today’s sentencing is a historic moment, cementing Trump’s status as both president-elect and convicted felon. While the Supreme Court’s majority upheld the law, Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh once again sided with Trump, continuing their pattern of enabling his efforts to evade accountability for his criminal conduct.
