Trump gets permission to seek dismissal of hush money case

A New York judge on Friday granted Donald Trump permission to seek dismissal of the criminal case in which he was convicted in May of 34 felony counts involving hush money paid to an adult film actress in light of his victory in the November 5 US presidential election.

New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan formally delayed the sentencing of Trump, which had been scheduled to take place next Tuesday. Prosecutors with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office this week asked Merchan to consider deferring all proceedings in the case until after Trump, 78, finishes his four-year presidential term that begins on January 20.

Lawyers for Trump, a Republican, have argued that the case must be dismissed because having it loom over him while he is president would cause "unconstitutional impediments" to his ability to govern. Bragg's office said it would argue against dismissal, but agreed that Trump deserves time to make his case through written motions.

Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.

Merchan on Friday set a December 2 deadline for Trump to file his motion to dismiss, and gave prosecutors until December 9 to respond. The judge did not set a new date for sentencing or indicate how long proceedings would remain on hold. Merchan also did not indicate when he would rule on Trump's motion to dismiss.

Representatives for Trump's campaign and for Bragg's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The case stemmed from a $130,000 payment Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels for her silence before the 2016 election about a sexual encounter she has said she had a decade earlier with Trump, who denies it.

• US House panel withholds report on Trump attorney general pick