The court’s 5-4 order Thursday clears the way for Judge Juan M. Merchan to impose a sentence Friday on Trump, who was convicted in what prosecutors called an attempt to cover up a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels.

The Supreme Court on Thursday denied President-elect Donald Trump’s bid to delay his Friday morning sentencing in the New York hush money case. The Court’s order clears the way for Manhattan judge Juan Merchan to impose the long-awaited sentence on the incoming president.

In a post-ruling message shared on Truth Social, Trump declined to criticise the Supreme Court. Rather, he blasted his trial judge, New York Judge Juan Merchan.