Today’s Poll
A New York judge has scheduled President-elect Donald Trump’s sentencing for January 10, following his conviction on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records. This stems from allegations of a hush money payment made during the 2016 presidential campaign. Despite the conviction, Judge Juan Merchan indicated he is unlikely to impose any punishment, citing concerns about presidential immunity once Trump assumes office.
Judge Merchan stated that an unconditional discharge seems the most practical solution, allowing Trump to attend sentencing virtually to accommodate his presidential transition duties. Although the judge emphasized no final sentencing decision would be made without proper proceedings, he suggested incarceration is off the table.
The charges arose from accusations that Trump falsified records to conceal a payment made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign. The payment was allegedly intended to prevent damaging allegations of an affair, which Trump denies.
Despite the conviction, Trump remains eligible to serve as president and could appeal the verdict. If he assumes office, he would become the first president to do so as a convicted felon.
A spokesperson for Trump described the case as baseless and called for its dismissal, citing constitutional protections for the president-elect. Trump’s legal team has focused on delaying proceedings until after the election, a strategy that succeeded in other cases.
Judge Merchan underscored the importance of maintaining the jury’s guilty verdict, calling it a cornerstone of the justice system. However, he rejected an unusual proposal by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to treat the case as if Trump were deceased, deeming the suggestion inappropriate.
This decision highlights the ongoing legal and political challenges surrounding Trump as he transitions back into the presidency.