Donald Trump asks US Supreme Court to block hush-money case sentencing ahead of January 20 inauguration

It’s called weaponisation of justice and it’s happened at a level no one has ever seen before,

said a visibly annoyed president-elect from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida

I can't even talk about aspects of the case that are the most vital aspects,

Trump, 78, complained at Mar-a-Lago at an event

President Trump’s legal team filed an emergency petition with the United States Supreme Court, asking the Court to correct the unjust actions by New York courts and stop the unlawful sentencing in the Manhattan D.A.’s Witch Hunt,

Trump spokesman and incoming White House communications director Steven Cheung said

Forcing President Trump to prepare for a criminal sentencing in a felony case while he is preparing to lead the free world as President of the United States in less than two weeks imposes an intolerable, unconstitutional burden on him that undermines these vital national interests,

Trump's attorneys wrote in their emergency petition

Alvin Braggmanhattan District Attorney

We will respond in court papers.”

A spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office prosecuted the case against Trump, said

President Trump is currently engaged in the most crucial and sensitive tasks of preparing to assume the Executive Power in less than two weeks, all of which are essential to the United States’ national security and vital interests,

wrote Sauer, his pick for solicitor general, and Blanche, whom he tapped to be deputy attorney general

The Supreme Court's historic decision on Immunity, the Constitution, and established legal precedent mandate that this meritless hoax be immediately dismissed,

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement

This Court should enter an immediate stay of further proceedings in the New York trial court to prevent grave injustice and harm to the institution of the Presidency and the operations of the federal government,

Trump's lawyers wrote in the new filing

Do you have any support for the notion that presidential immunity extends to a president-elect?”

Gesmer asked Trump’s criminal defense attorney Todd Blanche

Justice Merchan would have been happy to hold that sentencing in July,

she said

If he was concerned about this issue he could've easily had this proceeding go forward in July, in September,

Gesmer said

There has never been a case like this before, so no."

Blanche replied

I don't find that hypothetical very helpful,

Gesmer said, asking Blanche to focus on his arguments related to presidential immunity

Remember, this is a man that said he wants the transition to be smooth,

Trump told reporters on Tuesday before the hearing began

We are here in large part because the lower court has bent over backward to accommodate

Trump’s wishes ... Wu said

After consideration of the papers submitted and the extensive oral argument, movant's application for an interim stay is denied,

the judge wrote in her ruling

It is unconstitutional to conduct a criminal sentencing of the president-elect during a presidential transition, and doing so threatens to disrupt that transition and undermine the incoming president's ability to effectively wield the executive power of the United States,

Blanche wrote