THE LONG WAIT

Judge Juan Merchan's postponement of Donald Trump's sentencing keeps the nation on hold too

- NIK POPLI

WHEN DONALD TRUMP IN MAY BECAME THE first former President ever to be criminally convicted, one question was answered and a whole new set arose. Perhaps most important: Would Americans vote this fall with the Republican presidential nominee behind bars?

The answer turns out to be no, but only because his sentencing is being postponed. Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw Trump's criminal case in Manhattan over falsifying business records, said on Sept. 6 that he will announce the sentence on Nov. 26, to avoid any question of interfering with the election. Trump was supposed to learn his fate on Sept. 18, about seven weeks before Election Day.

Trump faces up to four years in prison after a 12-member jury in Manhattan unanimously pronounced him guilty of 34 felony charges-though he could receive a lighter sentence or probation as a first-time offender. The conviction stemmed from his involvement in a scheme to cover up a $130,000 payment to former adult-film star Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election, "hush money" meant to prevent her from affecting the outcome of that ballot by publicly discussing an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. The jury found that Trump falsified business records to disguise the nature of the reimbursement.