Judge Juan Merchan handed President-elect Donald Trump a significant legal victory on Friday, granting his request to file a motion to dismiss the charges in the controversial New York v. Trump case. Along with this decision, Merchan removed the previously scheduled sentencing date for Trump, effectively putting the entire case on pause. Trump’s legal team now has until December 2 to submit their dismissal motion, with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg given until December 9 to respond. This development marks a clear win for Trump as he prepares to return to the White House.
The judge also confirmed a stay in sentencing, which had been scheduled for November 26 but was pushed back following a joint request from Trump’s attorneys and Bragg’s office. Trump’s incoming White House communications director hailed the ruling as a decisive blow against what he called the “hoax” Manhattan case. Framing the decision as a mandate from the American people, the spokesman declared the move as yet another example of Trump overcoming politically motivated legal attacks.
Trump’s defense attorney, who has been tapped to serve as Deputy Attorney General in his upcoming administration, wasted no time pressing the case for dismissal. In a fiery letter to Judge Merchan, the attorney called for the immediate tossing of what he characterized as a baseless, politically driven case. Citing Trump’s overwhelming victory in the 2024 election, the letter argued that continuing the case would violate constitutional principles, the Presidential Transition Act, and the broader interests of justice. According to the defense, dismissing the case is essential to ensuring a smooth transfer of executive power.
In an interesting twist, DA Bragg himself requested a stay on the case until 2029, a curious timeline that drew sharp criticism from Trump’s team. While Bragg signaled that he would oppose Trump’s motion to dismiss, he also appeared open to reviewing the defense’s arguments, an acknowledgment that his case might not be as airtight as he had initially suggested. Trump’s attorney accused Bragg of stalling, suggesting the delay was more about politics than actual legal strategy, pointing to Bragg’s own campaign for reelection as Manhattan District Attorney.
The case continues to serve as a political lightning rod, emblematic of what Trump and his allies have long described as politically motivated “lawfare.” With the legal proceedings now on pause and Trump’s team pushing hard for dismissal, the case’s future remains uncertain. For Trump, this latest development not only keeps him out of the courtroom for now but also reinforces his narrative of being unfairly targeted. As the president-elect gears up for his second term, his legal team seems intent on dismantling what they view as a politically weaponized justice system.
