The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday rejected President-elect Donald Trump's last-minute attempt to halt sentencing in his hush money case. By a 5-4 vote, the court denied his emergency application to block Friday's sentencing. In a brief unsigned order, the court stated that the "burden that sentencing will impose on the President-elect's responsibilities is relatively insubstantial" and noted that Trump would be allowed to attend the sentencing virtually.
The court also pointed out that Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, has already indicated plans to issue an "unconditional discharge," meaning no jail time, fines, or probation. Trump is scheduled for sentencing in Manhattan at 9:30 a.m. (1430 GMT) on Friday, following his May conviction by a New York jury on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Trump, 78, who is set to be inaugurated on January 20, is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted felon to assume the presidency.
Following the Supreme Court's decision, Trump posted on Truth Social, thanking the court for "trying to remedy the great injustice done to me." He also criticized Judge Merchan, labeling him a "highly political and corrupt judge." Trump maintained his innocence, calling the charges "fake" and "made up," and vowed to continue appealing the guilty verdict.
Trump had filed the emergency application with the Supreme Court on Wednesday in an effort to block the sentencing.
Four conservative justices—Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh—voted in favor of granting Trump's request. However, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, both conservatives, joined the court's three liberal justices in denying the application.
Notably, Barrett, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh were all appointed by Trump during his presidency.