Judge schedules sentencing date for Trump
Donald Trump is set to be sentenced for the hush money case on January 10, and the judge has suggested that jail time is unlikely. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The Manhattan judge overseeing former and future President Donald Trump’s hush money trial has rejected a motion to dismiss the case and has set the sentencing date for January 10, just ten days prior to his inauguration for a second term.
Judge Juan Merchan ruled on Friday that Trump can attend the sentencing either in person or virtually and noted that the President-elect will receive an unconditional discharge, thereby avoiding jail time.
“Finding no legal impediment to sentencing and recognizing that presidential immunity will likely attach once the defendant takes his Oath of Office, it is incumbent upon this Court to schedule the imposition of sentence prior to January 20, 2025. It is this Court's firm belief that only by bringing finality to this matter will all three interests be served,” Merchan stated.
Trump's legal team has criticized the judge's decision to move forward with sentencing, claiming that the case is politically motivated. His spokesperson, Steven Cheung, remarked that Trump “must be allowed to continue the presidential transition process and to execute the vital duties of the presidency, unobstructed by the remains of this or any remnants of the witch hunts.”
“There should be no sentencing, and President Trump will continue fighting against these hoaxes until they are all dead,” he continued.
The hush money case involves payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Prosecutors allege that Trump falsified business records to hide these payments. Trump denies any wrongdoing and has consistently asserted that he is a target of prosecutorial overreach.
In 2023, Trump was charged with misreporting hush money payments, with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg successfully elevating what would typically be a misdemeanor charge to 34 felony counts, one for each instance of the payments mentioned in Trump’s records. In May 2024, he was found guilty on all counts.
The defense previously attempted to dismiss the case, referring to a US Supreme Court decision that grants presidents extensive immunity from criminal prosecution for official actions taken during their time in office. However, Judge Merchan decided that this immunity does not apply to actions taken prior to Trump's presidency. The sentencing has faced multiple postponements, originally set for July 11, 2024, then delayed to September 18, 2024, and subsequently to November 26, 2024.
This particular case stands as one of Trump's last significant legal challenges, as Special Counsel Jack Smith dropped charges in two federal cases concerning Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents and efforts to obstruct the certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. Additionally, a Georgia judge dismissed eight out of thirteen state-level election meddling charges following Trump's win in the 2024 presidential election.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
Judge Juan Merchan ruled on Friday that Trump can attend the sentencing either in person or virtually and noted that the President-elect will receive an unconditional discharge, thereby avoiding jail time.
“Finding no legal impediment to sentencing and recognizing that presidential immunity will likely attach once the defendant takes his Oath of Office, it is incumbent upon this Court to schedule the imposition of sentence prior to January 20, 2025. It is this Court's firm belief that only by bringing finality to this matter will all three interests be served,” Merchan stated.
Trump's legal team has criticized the judge's decision to move forward with sentencing, claiming that the case is politically motivated. His spokesperson, Steven Cheung, remarked that Trump “must be allowed to continue the presidential transition process and to execute the vital duties of the presidency, unobstructed by the remains of this or any remnants of the witch hunts.”
“There should be no sentencing, and President Trump will continue fighting against these hoaxes until they are all dead,” he continued.
The hush money case involves payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Prosecutors allege that Trump falsified business records to hide these payments. Trump denies any wrongdoing and has consistently asserted that he is a target of prosecutorial overreach.
In 2023, Trump was charged with misreporting hush money payments, with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg successfully elevating what would typically be a misdemeanor charge to 34 felony counts, one for each instance of the payments mentioned in Trump’s records. In May 2024, he was found guilty on all counts.
The defense previously attempted to dismiss the case, referring to a US Supreme Court decision that grants presidents extensive immunity from criminal prosecution for official actions taken during their time in office. However, Judge Merchan decided that this immunity does not apply to actions taken prior to Trump's presidency. The sentencing has faced multiple postponements, originally set for July 11, 2024, then delayed to September 18, 2024, and subsequently to November 26, 2024.
This particular case stands as one of Trump's last significant legal challenges, as Special Counsel Jack Smith dropped charges in two federal cases concerning Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents and efforts to obstruct the certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. Additionally, a Georgia judge dismissed eight out of thirteen state-level election meddling charges following Trump's win in the 2024 presidential election.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
