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 court turned down Trump's last-minute bid to prevent his sentencing, scheduled for Friday in New York state court in Manhattan 10 days before his inauguration for his second term as president.

The Supreme Court Thursday turned down President-elect Trump's plea to block a New York judge from sentencing him Friday on his felony conviction in a hush-money case. The vote was 5-4, with conservative Justices Clarence Thomas,