Donald Trump dealt final crushing blow amid New York hush money case

Donald Trump will now be sentenced on Friday for counts around the New York hush money case - days before the 78-year-old politician is due to return to the US presidency

Donald Trump faces sentencing for felony crimes - days before he is due to return to US presidency.

The 78-year-old politician had appealed to delay sentencing in his New York hush money case but this was rejected in a sharply divided Supreme Court today. The 5-4 decision means Trump, who was found guilty in what prosecutors labelled an attempt to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, will find out his verdict later today.

But Judge Juan M. Merchan has already stated it is unlikely he will not send Trump to jail or even fine the media personality, who has consistently denied any affair with Daniels or any misconduct.

Speaking after his appeal was rejected, the President Elect said: "I respect the court’s opinion — I think it was actually a very good opinion for us because you saw what they said, but they invited the appeal and the appeal is on the bigger issue. So, we’ll see how it works out."

Justices John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett sided with the liberal justices in the decision. However, Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh would have postponed the sentencing, according to the order. Trump's legal team have contended that evidence used in the Manhattan trial violated last summer's Supreme Court ruling granting Trump extensive immunity from prosecution over actions he took as president, reports the Mirror US.

At the very least, they have argued, the sentencing should be delayed while their appeals are considered to avoid distracting Trump during the presidential transition.

Prosecutors have countered, stating there's no need for the court to take the "extraordinary step" of intervening in a state case at this stage. They argue that Trump's lawyers haven't demonstrated that an hour-long virtual hearing would cause significant disruption, and any delay could potentially push the case beyond the January 20 inauguration, resulting in a lengthy postponement of sentencing if it occurs at all.

After New York courts declined to delay sentencing, including the state's highest court on Thursday, Trump's attorneys approached the justices. Judges in New York have determined that the convictions on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records are related to personal matters rather than Trump's official acts as president.

Daniels alleges she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, which he denies. Trump's lawyers have labelled the case politically motivated, claiming that sentencing him now would be a "grave injustice" that could disrupt the presidential transition as the Republican prepares to return to the White House. Trump is represented by D. John Sauer, his choice for solicitor general, who represents the government before the high court.