Trump asks US Supreme Court to urgently block sentencing

The Supreme Court ordered prosecutors to reply to Trump’s request by Thursday morning, suggesting the justices might rule before Friday’s scheduled sentencing, The New York Times reported.

The trial judge, Juan Merchan, has already indicated Trump would not face jail time, suggesting an unconditional discharge instead, the paper said.

Trump denies wrongdoing, calling the case a political attack. If sentenced, he would be the first US president formally designated a felon.

What they said: "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,” the emergency application says.

“In fact, the prospect of imposing sentence on President Trump just before he assumes office as the 47th president raises the specter of other possible restrictions on liberty, such as travel, reporting requirements, registration, probationary requirements, and others — all of which would be constitutionally intolerable under the doctrine of presidential immunity,” Trump’s lawyers wrote.

“Indeed, every adjudication of a felony conviction results in significant collateral consequences for the defendant, regardless of whether a term of imprisonment is imposed.”