Supreme Court denies Trump's request to block hush money sentencing

The Supreme Court on Thursday night denied President-elect Donald Trump's last minute request to block sentencing in his hush money case. 

Trump is scheduled to face sentencing on Friday, at 9:30 a.m., but Judge Juan Merchan has indicated he is unlikely to impose any jail time in the case. Trump was convicted last year on 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with a 2016 payment made to his then-attorney, Michael Cohen.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued the court's ruling on behalf of the majority. 

"The application for stay presented to Justice Sotomayor and by her referred to the Court is denied for ... the following reasons," the order said. "First, the alleged evidentiary violations at President-Elect Trump’s state-court trial can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal. 

"Second, the burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elect’s responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial court’s stated intent to impose a sentence of 'unconditional discharge' after a brief virtual hearing."

The order noted that Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh would approve the request.

Trump responded to the ruling in a statement on Truth Social, praising the Supreme Court for taking the time to consider the request.

"I appreciate the time and effort of the United States Supreme Court in trying to remedy the great injustice done to me by the highly conflicted 'Acting Justice,' who should not have been allowed to try this case," Trump wrote. "This was nothing other than Weaponization of our Justice System against a Political Opponent. It’s called Lawfare, and nothing like this has ever happened in the United States of America, and it should never be allowed to happen again."

The incoming president also reaffirmed his commitment to appealing the case, which he claimed should never have been brought.

"The pathetic, dying remnants of the Witch Hunts against me will not distract us as we unite and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN," he added.

The ruling comes after the New York Supreme Court on Thursday declined to get involved in the case. 

Trump is expected to attend Friday's sentencing virtually.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.