Amid a flurry of filings in the case since Trump's election win this month, it had already become clear that the Nov. 26 sentencing date wouldn't hold. Judge Juan M. Merchan's order Friday formalized that without setting a new one.
He called for more filing from both sides over the next 2 1/2 weeks about how to proceed in light of Trump's impending return to the White House.
Trump's lawyers want the case dismissed outright, and immediately. They have said that it otherwise will interfere with his presidential transition and duties.
Prosecutors have indicated that they're open to putting the case on hold, perhaps as long as he's in office, but they don't want it to be scrapped altogether. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, has said the solution needs to balance the obligations of the presidency with "the sanctity of the jury verdict.”
Bragg's office declined to comment on Friday's ruling. Trump spokesperson and incoming White House communications director Steven Cheung hailed it as “a decisive win” for Trump.
