MANDEL NGAN, ERIN SCHAFF / AFP / POOL / AFP
Donald Trump's sentencing in his New York hush money trial was on Friday postponed until after the US presidential election in November - a win for the Republican as he battles Kamala Harris in the race for the White House.
The former president was due to be sentenced on 18 September for falsifying business records in a scheme to silence a porn star's politically damaging story.
The Judge in the matter postponed it to 26 November - three weeks after the November 5 election, as requested by Trump's lawyers.
The postponement comes as Trump and Democrat Harris prepare to face off in a debate next Tuesday.
Trump welcomed the sentencing delay, taking to his Truth Social platform to blast the case as a "witch hunt."
"This case should be rightfully terminated," he added.
Trump, 78, was convicted in May of 34 counts of doctoring business records to cover up hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels to stop her from disclosing an alleged sexual encounter ahead of the 2016 election.
The twice-impeached ex-president was originally scheduled to be sentenced on July 11.
That was delayed after the US Supreme Court ruled a former president has broad immunity from criminal prosecutions.
