Quick Hit:

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has opted not to contest former President Donald Trump's request to delay his sentencing in his New York criminal case until after the November election.

Key Details:

• DA Alvin Bragg's office announced it would not oppose Trump's request to push his sentencing date, leaving the final decision to Judge Juan Merchan.

• Trump's legal team argues that sentencing on Sept. 18th, just weeks before the election, would constitute election interference and is seeking a delay.

• The defense is also exploring appeals based on a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, claiming it could impact the case.

Diving Deeper:

According to a report from POLITICO, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office has chosen not to oppose former President Donald Trump's request to delay his sentencing in the New York criminal case until after the upcoming November election. The decision on whether to grant this delay now lies with New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan.

In a letter addressed to Merchan and dated August 16th, Bragg's office, represented by Assistant District Attorneys including Matthew Colangelo, indicated that they would "defer to the Court on the appropriate post-trial schedule that allows for adequate time to adjudicate defendant's motion while also pronouncing sentence 'without reasonable delay.'" The letter became public on Monday.

The former president’s legal team, including lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, submitted their own letter to the court on Thursday, arguing that holding the sentencing as scheduled on September 18th would be tantamount to election interference, given that it is set just seven weeks before Election Day. They requested that the sentencing be postponed until after the election, allowing Trump to consider his next legal steps after Judge Merchan's expected ruling on September 16th. The defense is seeking to overturn the verdict and dismiss the case, citing a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, which they argue should apply to Trump's case.

In response, Bragg's office acknowledged that the denial of immunity from prosecution is immediately appealable, but contended that the issue of immunity does not apply in this instance. They emphasized that the only question before the court concerns the admissibility of certain evidence based on a new evidentiary rule derived from the Supreme Court's ruling.

Despite this, Bragg's office stated they would defer to the court on whether to adjourn the sentencing to allow for any necessary appellate litigation, highlighting the significant public safety and logistical preparations required for court appearances in this high-profile case.

Trump's campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, called for the dismissal of the case, labeling it an "Election Interference Witch Hunt" and referencing the Supreme Court’s mandate on presidential immunity.