A judge agreed on Friday to postpone the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s sentencing following his May conviction in a hush-money case until after the November election. The decision comes as the race for the White House heats up, and grants the former president a reprieve as he navigates the aftermath of his criminal conviction and the home stretch of the presidential campaign.
Mr Trump was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records in a case that focused on hush-money payments made to an adult film star to cover up an alleged affair. Manhattan Judge Juan M Merchan, who is also weighing a defence request to overturn the verdict on immunity grounds, delayed Mr Trump’s sentencing until November 26, several weeks after the final votes will be cast in the election.
It had been scheduled for September 18, about seven weeks before election day. Mr Trump is the first US president to be found guilty of a crime.
Falsifying business records is punishable by up to four years in prison, though fines or probation have been more common for others convicted of the crime in the past.
Mr Trump’s lawyers pushed for the delay on several fronts, petitioning the judge and asking a federal court to intervene. They argued that punishing the former president in the thick of his campaign to retake the White House would amount to election interference.
Mr Trump’s lawyers argued that delaying his sentencing until after the election would also allow him time to consider his next steps after Mr Merchan rules on the defence’s request to reverse his conviction and dismiss the case following the July ruling from the US Supreme Court on presidential immunity.
In his order issued on Friday, the Associated Press reported that Mr Merchan delayed a decision on that matter until November 12. On Tuesday a federal judge also rejected Mr Trump’s request to have the US District Court in Manhattan take over the case from Mr Merchan’s state court.
Had they been successful, Mr Trump’s lawyers said they would have then sought to have the verdict overturned and the case dismissed on immunity grounds. Mr Trump is appealing the federal court ruling.
If he wins the White House in November, Mr Trump could potentially order the Department of Justice to drop federal election interference charges against him, Reuters reported. He would not have the authority to end the New York state case or an election interference case in Georgia.
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 2 (Van Dijk 18', 24')
Brighton 1 (Dunk 79')
Red card: Alisson (Liverpool)
Favourite things
Luxury: Enjoys window shopping for high-end bags and jewellery
Discount: She works in luxury retail, but is careful about spending, waits for sales, festivals and only buys on discount
University: The only person in her family to go to college, Jiang secured a bachelor’s degree in business management in China
Masters: Studying part-time for a master’s degree in international business marketing in Dubai
Vacation: Heads back home to see family in China
Community work: Member of the Chinese Business Women’s Association of the UAE to encourage other women entrepreneurs
The years Ramadan fell in May
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
PSA DUBAI WORLD SERIES FINALS LINE-UP
Men’s:
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
Ali Farag (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER)
Tarek Momen (EGY)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Nick Matthew (ENG)
Women's:
Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
Laura Massaro (ENG)
Joelle King (NZE)
Camille Serme (FRA)
Nouran Gohar (EGY)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
All the Money in the World
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Charlie Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer
Four stars
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group F
Manchester City v Hoffenheim, midnight (Wednesday, UAE)
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
