"Postponement of sentencing for Trump allows focus on electoral campaign in the U.S."

The judge of the New York Supreme Court, Juan M. Merchan, has postponed the sentencing of the criminal trial against former President Donald Trump until November 26, a move that comes just after the presidential elections on November 5. This postponement has been interpreted as a victory for Trump’s legal team, which argued that a sentence before the elections could interfere with his electoral campaign. The case in question centers on 23 counts of document falsification related to payments made to silence porn actress Stormy Daniels, with whom Trump had an extramarital affair. A grand jury found Trump guilty in May, exposing him to a possible sentence of up to four years in prison. However, experts believe it is more likely that Judge Merchan will opt for a shorter sentence, or even measures such as probation. Trump's legal team justified their request for a postponement, arguing that the impending sentencing could have a significant impact on the closely contested electoral race against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. The strategy seems focused on providing Trump more time to appeal his conviction and better prepare for what could be a critical episode in his political career. Interestingly, the prosecution did not oppose this brief postponement, suggesting a possible intention to prevent the case from becoming a distraction during the electoral period. The fact that the trial continues after the elections could allow both parties to focus on issues more relevant to voters, at least until the sentence is handed down. However, not all news has been favorable for Trump. Earlier this month, federal judge Alvin Hellerstein denied the former president's request to move his case to federal court. Trump's defense had argued that his presidential immunity should protect him from this trial, but Hellerstein determined that the payments to Daniels were of a private nature and unrelated to his duties as president. This decision reaffirms the argument that Trump’s actions regarding payments to Stormy Daniels are not subject to presidential immunity, raising serious complications for his defense. Judge Hellerstein, like Merchan, emphasized that the crimes he is accused of fall outside the sphere of executive authority. From Trump Tower, the former president has reiterated his stance that the judicial system is "rigged" and that the cases against him are the result of "political interference." In his view, the fact that his trial is taking place in New York, a Democratic stronghold, is proof that politics can alter the course of justice in the city. With the sentencing postponed, Trump can continue to focus on his electoral campaign, at least for a time. Nevertheless, the specter of conviction looms over his candidacy, and the outcome of the elections could have a significant impact on the former president's political future. Meanwhile, the atmosphere surrounding this case continues to polarize. Trump supporters view the postponement as a triumph, while his detractors believe that legal actions are necessary to maintain the integrity of the judicial system. This conflict reflects a broader division in American politics, where perceptions of justice and fairness have become deeply questioned. As we approach the elections, Trump’s case will serve as a reminder of the complexity of the intersection between politics and law, further fueling a debate that will remain crucial for the future of democracy in the United States.