Trump’s lawyers ask judge to halt sentencing

new york: President-elect Donald Trump on Monday moved to halt this week’s sentencing in his hush money case while he appeals a judge’s decision that upheld the historic verdict and put him on course to be the first president to take office convicted of felony crimes.

Trump’s lawyers said they will ask a New York appeals court to reverse Manhattan Judge Juan M Merchan’s ruling last week, which set the case for sentencing on Friday - a little more than a week before his inauguration. Merchan rejected Trump’s bid to throw out the May 30 verdict because of his impending return to the White House. Trump’s lawyers said they will also appeal a prior decision in which the judge refused to dismiss the case on presidential immunity grounds. Trump has said that it “would be the end of the Presidency as we know it” if the ruling is allowed to stand. agencies