Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan signaled on Friday that he is open to a total dismissal of President-elect Donald Trump’s hush money conviction, handing down a ruling that effectively stays the trial indefinitely.
CNN reported that Merchan has adjourned a sentencing hearing in the case, the third time he has done so in less than two weeks.
Merchan originally self-imposed a deadline of November 12th to punish the Republican after a jury found him guilty on 34 felony counts for concealing records of a sum paid to Stormy Daniels to quell rumors of an affair before the 2016 election.
Attorneys for Trump have fought the conviction at every turn, arguing that the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling applies because Trump did not reimburse Michael Cohen for the payment until he was in office.
In his ruling Friday, Merchan seemed inclined to agree that District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case was going nowhere.
