Friday Briefing: A Judge Weighs a Monumental Trump Decision

The presidential election is less than two months away. This is what we’re watching.

It’s been more than three months since a Manhattan jury convicted Donald Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal. But after a Supreme Court ruling in July granted the former president some immunities, he has yet to be sentenced.

Justice Juan Merchan, who presided over the trial, already delayed Trump’s sentencing once, shortly after the ruling. He now faces a decision that could alter American politics for years to come: whether to sentence Trump as planned on Sept. 18 or wait until after Election Day on Nov. 5, as Trump requested.

If Justice Merchan postpones the sentencing, the American people will vote without knowing whether Trump will spend time behind bars. If not, Trump will undoubtedly accuse him of trying to tip the election toward his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Here’s what else to know:

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