Judge postpones decision on overturning Trump's conviction

On November 12, acting New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan announced that he would postpone a decision on whether to dismiss former President and now President-elect Donald Trump's hush money case on immunity grounds.

In a statement to his attorney, Mr. Merchan said he had granted the request to postpone the ruling until November 19. Judge Merchan had originally scheduled a ruling on November 12 on whether to dismiss the New York case.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office now has until November 19 to consider how to approach the case as Trump prepares to take office in January 2025.

Mr Trump was convicted of falsifying business records to cover up an affair that threatened to derail his 2016 presidential campaign.

Mr Trump's lawyers have urged Judge Merchan to dismiss the case so that Mr Trump can carry out his duties without "unconstitutional impediments to the President's ability to govern".

The powers of the presidency were significantly expanded by a July ruling by the US Supreme Court that granted the nation's chief executive officer blanket immunity from prosecution for official acts.

With his return to the White House, Mr. Trump can be sure that the federal lawsuits against him will be dismissed.

Hoai Phuong (AFP, AP)