Judge denies Trump’s request to postpone hush money sentencing

President-elect Donald Trump has called for sentencing in his hush money trial to be halted as his lawyers file an appeal (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

President-elect Donald Trump was thwarted in his bid to indefinitely postpone this week’s sentencing in his hush-money case while he appeals against a ruling that upheld the verdict and put him on course to be the first president to take office convicted of crimes.

Manhattan Judge Juan M Merchan ordered Friday’s sentencing to proceed as scheduled, rejecting arguments from Mr Trump’s lawyers who said it should be halted while they ask a state appeals court to reverse his decision to let the conviction stand.