Donald Trump’s rant after ‘hush money’ sentencing delayed

The former US president has lashed out on his social media platform after a significant court move ahead of the election.

Former president Donald Trump has had a significant court win as sentencing for his hush money trial was delayed until after this year’s election.

Mr Trump was due to be sentenced this month after a jury convicted him in May of 34 counts of doctoring business records to cover up payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels.

The trial centred on allegations Ms Daniels was paid off to prevent her going public about her claims of an affair on the eve of the 2016 election, which Mr Trump won.

Previously one of his most trusted advisers, “fixer” Michael Cohen, testified he was instructed to buy Ms Daniels’ silence and fronted US$130,000.

“Everything required Mr Trump’s sign-off,” Mr Cohen said.

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was convicted in May. Picture: Seth Wenig/AFP

Mr Trump, the Republican nominee for November’s vote, continues to deny the allegations and described the case as a “witch hunt” after Friday’s court win.

New York Judge Juan Merchan postponed sentencing to November 26 – well past the November 5 election in which Mr Trump faces Vice President Kamala Harris.

In a letter Judge Merchan said the decision was made to “avoid any appearance” of the proceedings impacting the US presidential race.

“The Manhattan D.A. Witch Hunt has been postponed because everyone realises that there was no case, I did nothing wrong!” Mr Trump wrote on his social media account Truth Social.

“It is a political attack against me by Comrade Kamala Harris and other Radical Left Opponents for purposes of Election Interference, and is a case that should have never been brought.”

He said the prosecution of him was “strictly third world, banana republic ‘stuff’” and added the case “should be rightfully terminated”.

Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer to Donald Trump. Picture: Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP

Porn star Stormy Daniels. Picture: Tara Ziemba/Getty Images

He was originally scheduled to be sentenced on July 11 but that was delayed until September after the Supreme Court ruled an ex-president has broad immunity from criminal prosecution.

Mr Trump’s lawyers asked that his New York conviction be tossed out following the Supreme Court immunity ruling, and Judge Merchan said he would rule on the dismissal motion on November 12.

Judge Merchan noted Mr Trump had asked for sentencing to be delayed “to avoid the potential ‘politically prejudicial’ impact that a public sentencing could have on him and his prospects in the upcoming election.”

Mr Trump has continued his campaigning for the November poll. Picture: Grant Baldwin/Getty Images/AFP

He wrote the “unique” nature of the case and said to ensure public confidence, sentencing should be “entirely focused on the verdict of the jury” and not political distractions.

Postponing sentencing should “dispel any suggestion that the court will have issued any decision or imposed sentence either to give an advantage to, or to create a disadvantage for, any political party and/or any candidate for any office,” he said.

“This is not a decision this court makes lightly but it is the decision which in this court’s view, best advances the interests of justice,” he added.

Mr Trump faces up to four years in prison for each of the 34 counts.

However, as a first-time offender, he is considered more likely to receive probation

– with AFP