The judge presiding over Donald Trump’s criminal hush money case has decided to delay his ruling on whether to dismiss the president-elect’s conviction. This decision comes at a crucial time as Trump has been busy announcing his controversial cabinet member selections, while the future of his New York criminal case remains uncertain.
Trump’s legal team has been advocating for the dismissal of the case, in which he was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsified business records. On the other hand, prosecutors have requested more time to evaluate their next steps following Trump’s election as president.
In a letter to Judge Juan Merchan, prosecutor Matthew Colangelo highlighted the unprecedented circumstances surrounding the case and the need to carefully balance the jury verdict of guilt with the presidency. The prosecutors have requested an adjournment and set a deadline of November 19, 2024, to advise the court on their recommended steps.
The court granted a one-week joint stay, delaying Trump’s scheduled sentencing on November 26. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his criminal conviction, Trump seemed unfazed as he continued to select Senate-confirmed cabinet members for his upcoming term in the White House.
Among his recent announcements, Trump named campaign manager Susan Wiles as his White House chief-of-staff, making her the first woman to hold the title. Additionally, Florida Rep. Mike Waltz was chosen as his national security adviser, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as the U.S. ambassador to Israel.
Trump’s cabinet selections are based on loyalty, with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem chosen as the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Noem, who has been a staunch supporter of Trump, will oversee border security and the president-elect’s immigration policies if confirmed by the Senate.
Other notable names in Trump’s cabinet include Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff and Tom Homan as the “border czar”. Homan, a visiting fellow at The Heritage Foundation, will be responsible for border security, despite Trump’s efforts to distance himself from the conservative think-tank’s Project 2025 during his campaign.
As the legal proceedings in Trump’s hush money case are postponed, the president-elect remains focused on shaping his administration with loyal and trusted individuals. The uncertainty surrounding his criminal conviction has not deterred Trump from moving forward with his cabinet selections, signaling a continuation of his controversial and divisive leadership style.
