Donald Trump has thanked the Supreme Court after it refused his request to halt his sentencing hearing in New York.
Newsweek sought email comment from Trump's attorney on Friday.
Why It Matters
Trump has long attacked legal decisions that have not gone his way. The fact he chose not to do so here, with some conservative judges going against him, indicates that Trump might be seeking to keep the Supreme Court on side as his second presidency begins.
What To Know
The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected Trump's request that it halt Friday's sentencing hearing in New York.
Trump had hoped the court would halt his sentencing on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
The charges relate to payments made by his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to adult film star, Stormy Daniels, to silence claims of an affair. The falsified records allegedly concealed reimbursements to Cohen during Trump's 2016 campaign.
In their appeal to the Supreme Court, Trump's lawyers argued that Trump is shielded from prosecution, citing the court's own July 1, 2024, ruling on presidential immunity. The court rejected this claim, emphasizing that immunity does not extend to presidents-elect.
The Supreme Court vote was 5-4 against Trump, with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett breaking with conservatives to side with the court's three liberal justices.
In a response on his social media site, Truth Social, later on Thursday, Trump thanked the Supreme Court while launching another barbed attack on New York trial judge Juan Merchan.
What People Are Saying
Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social: "I appreciate the time and effort of the United States Supreme Court in trying to remedy the great injustice done to me by the highly conflicted 'Acting Justice,' who should not have been allowed to try this case.
"Every Legal Scholar stated, unequivocally, that this is a case that should never have been brought. There was no case against me. In other words, I am innocent of all of the Judge's made up, fake charges.
"This was nothing other than Weaponization of our Justice System against a Political Opponent. It's called Lawfare, and nothing like this has ever happened in the United States of America, and it should never be allowed to happen again."
He also took aim at the $10,000 in fines he had to pay after Merchan found that Trump had 10 times broken a gag order in the case.
"To this day, this highly political and corrupt Judge has put a gag order on me, which takes away my First Amendment right to speak about very important aspects of the case. For the sake and sanctity of the Presidency, I will be appealing this case, and am confident that JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL. The pathetic, dying remnants of the Witch Hunts against me will not distract us as we unite and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" he wrote.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. in a statement: "This ruling ensures that no individual, regardless of position, is above the law."
What Happens Next
Trump is due to be sentenced on Friday. Merchan has already said that he will impose an unconditional discharge on Trump, who is due to be inaugurated as president on January 20.
An unconditional discharge means that Trump will not have to serve any jail time and will not be placed under any supervision after sentencing.
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