NEW YORK – A New York judge overseeing the hush money case involving President-elect Donald Trump announced on Friday that the sentencing would take place 10 days before his January 20 inauguration. The judge also indicated that he was unlikely to impose any jail time.
Judge Juan Merchan confirmed that Trump, the first former president ever convicted of a crime, could attend his sentencing either in person or virtually on January 10.
In his 18-page decision, Merchan upheld Trump’s conviction by a New York jury and rejected multiple motions from Trump’s legal team aimed at having the conviction dismissed.
Rather than sentencing Trump to prison, the judge suggested he might opt for an unconditional discharge, meaning Trump would not face any further conditions or restrictions. However, the conviction means Trump would enter the White House as a convicted felon. Despite the possibility of a four-year sentence, legal experts, even prior to Trump’s November presidential election victory, had predicted that the judge would not impose jail time.
“The Court’s inclination is to not impose any incarceration,” Judge Merchan said, noting that prosecutors also did not consider jail time a practical recommendation.
Trump is expected to file an appeal, which could delay the sentencing process.
In May, Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in the days leading up to the 2016 election, aimed at preventing her from disclosing an alleged sexual encounter in 2006.
Trump’s defense team had argued for the dismissal of the case on several grounds, including a Supreme Court ruling from the previous year that grants former U.S. presidents broad immunity from prosecution for official acts performed while in office.
