During a recent spot on Fox News, Karl Rove opined that Judge Juan Merchan's decision to delay Donald Trump's sentencing actually hurts the Republican.
Trump, who was convicted on more than 30 charges, will eventually be sentenced in New York City, but it will not happen until after November's election. The immediate opinion from many was that Trump is lucky to not have the sentencing hanging over his head. Rove, the architect of George W. Bush's presidency, took a different view.
The Republican told Fox News:
"Well, first of all, it’s a reasonable decision. I think even the judge figured out that it would be enormously disruptive to the country and reflect badly on the judiciary if he attempted to insert himself into the middle of the final stages of a presidential campaign. And I also agree with the notion that was offered up by several other of your comment- your analysts. And that is that if he had gone forward with this, it would have, ironically enough, served the interest of Donald Trump."
Rove continued:
"Donald Trump has risen in the polls the more the people have reacted negatively to his treatment in the courtroom. And if the judge had gone ahead with this, it could have easily been the October surprise. That is to say, he [Merchan] would have, potentially gone after Donald Trump in his verdict and the reaction of the American people might have been wholly negative on it and helped advance the cause of Donald Trump in the election,” he continued. “But a wise decision. It’s good for the country that this not be forced into the final stages of a presidential campaign."