New York judge Juan Merchan has scheduled Donald Trump’s sentencing in the case involving hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels for January 10, just ten days before his return to the White House as the re-elected president. However, Merchan indicated that Trump will not face prison time. Despite the unusual circumstances, this will make Trump the first U.S. president to assume office after being convicted of a criminal offense.
Merchan stated that he would sentence the former and future president to probation, meaning Trump will be released without a prison term or financial penalty. The judge rejected the defense’s argument that Trump is protected by presidential immunity and that the case should be dismissed because he is returning to the White House.
“The interests of justice will be served only by bringing this matter to a close,” Merchan wrote.
In May 2024, Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records, including concealing information about payments made to Stormy Daniels during the final weeks of his 2016 presidential campaign to keep their alleged sexual relationship quiet.
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK:
Trump, who was married at the time, has claimed that the story involving Stormy Daniels is false and that he did nothing wrong.
After Trump’s re-election victory on November 5, Merchan paused the proceedings and postponed sentencing indefinitely to allow both the defense and the prosecution time to assess the future course of the trial.
While Trump’s lawyers argued that any conviction would be unconstitutional as it would “obstruct” the president’s ability to govern once in office, prosecutors, while acknowledging the significance of his election, maintained that the conviction should stand.
Merchan ruled that Trump’s current status as president-elect does not grant him the same immunity as a sitting president, and therefore, the conviction should not be overturned or the case dismissed.
“To do so would undermine the rule of law in immeasurable ways,” Merchan stated.
Trump could have faced penalties ranging from a fine to up to four years in prison for the charges brought against him.
READ MORE:
Source: Nova S, Photo: Reuters