Special Poll
Trump Faces Sentencing Amid Legal and Presidential Challenges
President-elect Donald Trump encountered a legal setback on Monday when his request to postpone sentencing in his hush money case was denied. The sentencing is scheduled for this Friday, despite Trump’s appeals to delay proceedings until after his inauguration. This places him on track to become the first U.S. president to take office with a criminal conviction.
Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan rejected Trump’s arguments to postpone sentencing while appealing the court’s decision to uphold the verdict. Trump’s legal team can still seek intervention from a higher court, but as of now, the sentencing will take place less than two weeks before Trump begins his second term.
Trump’s lawyers indicated that he would appear via video for the sentencing, citing the demands of the presidential transition. Judge Merchan signaled that Trump is unlikely to face jail time, fines, or probation for the conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, leaving the case likely to conclude with an unconditional discharge.
The charges stemmed from allegations of a hush money scheme involving a payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels during Trump’s 2016 campaign. Trump denies the claims and has consistently called the case a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
After the ruling, Trump criticized the decision on his Truth Social platform, warning that allowing the conviction to stand would “end the Presidency as we know it.”
Prosecutors have emphasized the public interest in resolving the case promptly, arguing that Trump himself caused delays by seeking repeated postponements. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office urged the court to proceed, noting that further delays could risk the case being unresolved before Trump’s second term begins.
Defense lawyers continue to assert that the case is without merit, citing legal errors and claiming it violates constitutional protections for presidents. If the sentencing proceeds, Trump’s legal team warns of potential challenges managing appeals while in office, including the possibility of a retrial during his presidency if the conviction is overturned.
The sentencing will provide Trump, his lawyers, and prosecutors an opportunity to address the court. Regardless of the outcome, the case highlights the complex intersection of legal proceedings and the demands of the presidency, raising questions about how these challenges will unfold as Trump assumes office again.