CBS News
Manhattan prosecutors don’t oppose delay in Trump’s sentencing after Supreme Court immunity ruling
Prosecutors for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said they are not opposed to delaying Donald Trump’s sentencing for his criminal conviction in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling that former presidents enjoy broad immunity for official acts.
“Although we believe defendant’s arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion,” lawyers from the D.A.’s office said in a letter to the judge in the case on Tuesday.
On Monday, Trump’s lawyers asked to file a motion arguing Trump’s conviction should be overturned based on the Supreme Court’s decision, saying the district attorney should not have been allowed to introduce evidence about official acts Trump took while in office.
Trump was convicted of 34 counts of falsification of business records in May, and sentencing is currently scheduled for July 11.
Trump’s Monday letter to Justice Juan Merchan cited a March 7 pretrial motion in which his attorneys argued that certain testimony and evidence, particularly pertaining to Trump’s public statements and social media posts while in office, were evidence corresponding to official acts.
The Supreme Court ruled that evidence about official acts cannot be introduced “even on charges that purport to be based only on his unofficial conduct.” Trump’s attorneys said Monday that the “official-acts evidence should never have been put before the jury.”
“The verdicts in this case violate the presidential immunity doctrine and create grave risks of ‘an Executive Branch that cannibalizes itself,'” they wrote in their letter, quoting the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Prosecutors for Bragg said in their response that they believe Trump’s “arguments to be without merit,” but they did not oppose allowing him to file the motion. Trump didn’t request a delay in sentencing, but prosecutors said “his request to file moving papers on July 10 is necessarily a request to adjourn the sentencing hearing currently scheduled for July 11.” They asked for a deadline of July 24 to respond to the defense’s motion.
On May 30, a unanimous jury concluded Trump was guilty of falsifying records in an effort to cover up reimbursements for a “hush money” payment to an adult film star. Trump gave the greenlight to subordinates who falsified records as part of that scheme while he was in the White House in 2017.
The issue of whether Trump was engaged in official acts has previously come up in this case. In 2023, Trump’s lawyers said the allegations involved official acts within the color of his presidential duties.
A federal judge rejected that claim, writing, “hush money paid to an adult film star is not related to a president’s official acts. It does not reflect in any way the color of the president’s official duties.”
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$100 million in federal funds released for North Carolina to rebuild roads, bridges damaged by Helene
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation released $100 million in emergency funds on Saturday for North Carolina to rebuild its roads and bridges damaged by Helene.
“We are providing this initial round of funding so there’s no delay getting roads repaired and reopened, and re-establishing critical routes,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement. “The Biden-Harris administration will be with North Carolina every step of the way, and today’s emergency funding to help get transportation networks back up and running safely will be followed by additional federal resources.”
The storm caused rampant flooding that has devastated several towns and killed more than 225 people – with CBS News confirming at least 114 people killed in North Carolina. There was more than 8 inches of rain across the western North Carolina mountains, with some areas seeing more than a foot.
Hundreds of roads across Western North Carolina remain closed, leading to an increase in air traffic as teams scour the region for survivors by air. Air traffic over Western North Carolina has increased by 300% due to relief efforts since the storm cleared, the Federal Aviation Administration and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
Mudslides blocked Interstate 40 and other highways in North Carolina and about 400 roads were closed due to damage from Helene. Interstate 40 was damaged at several locations, the Department of Transportation said.
President Biden visited the Carolinas on Wednesday, surveying the flood damage by air from Greenville, South Carolina, to Asheville, North Carolina. Mr. Biden announced the federal government would cover “100%” of all debris removal and emergency protective measure costs in North Carolina for six months.
The Department of Transportation said these relief funds will allow the North Carolina Department of Transportation to act more quickly to fund eligible repairs to their damaged facilities.
Li Cohen and
contributed to this report.
CBS News
Tropical Storm Milton forms in Gulf; forecast to strengthen into hurricane headed toward Florida
Tropical Storm Milton has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane headed toward Florida with possible impacts to its western coast, the National Hurricane Center said on Saturday. Maximum sustained winds are expected to be at 40 mph with higher gusts and Milton is currently moving north-northeast, NHC said in an advisory.
Milton is forecast to undergo a period of rapid intensification before it makes landfall as a Category 2 hurricane across Florida’s west coast, CBS News Miami reported.
The forecast comes a little more than a week after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida and across the Southeast, killing more than 200 people and causing immense destruction. President Biden on Thursday took an aerial tour of Florida’s Big Bend where Helene struck as a Category 4 storm. Hundreds of people are still missing and Mr. Biden said the work to rebuild will cost “billions of dollars” as communities suffer still without power, running water and passable roads.
NOAA
Milton is forecast to move across the southwestern Gulf of Mexico through Sunday night then across the south-central Gulf on Monday and Tuesday before reaching Florida’s west coast by the middle of the week, NHC said. Heavy rain is possible in the region starting Sunday into Monday, CBS Miami reported, and more rain and heavy winds will most likely arrive on Wednesday. Hurricane and storm surge watches will most likely be required for portions of Florida starting Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said.
Along with the heavy rainfall, the hurricane center said to expect risks of flooding.
Residents in the area should ensure they have a hurricane plan in place, the National Hurricane Center said, follow the advice of local officials and check back for forecast updates.
