Trump to be sentenced for conviction in New York “hush money” case before inauguration
A New York judge ruled Friday that President-elect Donald Trump will return to court before returning to the White House.
Judge Juan Merchan will sentence Trump for his crimes on January 10, a court proceeding that will be unlike any in the United States’ 248 years. Trump convicted in New York from a US$130,000 in so-called “hush money” His then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, filmed with adult film star Stormy Daniels just days before the 2016 election.
Judge Juan Melchan’s ruling ends two months of speculation — and back and forth Riding the wind and waves Trump’s lawyer and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg — who succeeded Trump. The election was narrowly won November 5.
Trump becomes first-ever former president found guilty In May, when The jury unanimously found him guilty In the case of New York. The verdict in the case was held up for months as Trump campaigned for re-election as president. In November, he became the first person voted into the White House with a criminal conviction.
Trump argued in a motion to dismiss that his conviction must be vacated once he is in the White House. Merchant said Friday that was not the case.
“This court finds that neither the doctrine of presidential immunity, the Presidential Transition Act, nor the Supremacy Clause requires that the jury’s verdict be vacated or that the indictment be dismissed,” Merchian wrote in his order Friday.
Merchant said in his ruling that Trump would not be sentenced to prison time. Prosecutors agreed with the decision, he wrote.
“At this juncture, it would seem appropriate to indicate that the court is leaning toward not imposing any prison sentence, a sentence sanctioned by the conviction, but (prosecutors) acknowledge that they no longer believe that to be a viable recommendation,” Merchian wrote.
Trump’s lawyers claim that the constitutional requirements for the president-elect “supersede” the jury’s decision and the ongoing proceedings in the case.
Bragg’s office argued that the judge has a range of options, including “novel” ones, to balance the interests of justice with the unprecedented situation of a convicted defendant being elected president before sentencing. Their suggestions include delaying proceedings until after Trump’s term ends, or even terminating the case and its proceedings with a note that the verdict has not been vacated.
Trump’s conviction could result in up to four years in prison, but there are various alternatives to prison, including probation and fines.
Moqian’s decision is the latest in a series of historic firsts in the case. Trump’s indictment In March 2023, he became the first former president to be criminally charged in U.S. history. he suffered seven week trial period The incident occurred this spring during the Republican presidential primaries.
In court, Trump complained quietly but often leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes as prosecutors and lawyers questioned more than 20 witnesses. Lower your head from time to time, obviously dozed off. In the hallway outside the courthouse, Trump, surrounded by Republican allies, lawyers and Secret Service agents, fumed over the case as he campaigned in front of a swarm of media cameras.
At times, his dual commitment to the courtroom and the cameras caused trouble. merchant 10 times you defied Trump Violating a gag order prohibiting public statements about potential jurors, witnesses and others.
witness from Former National Enquirer publisher David Peckerdescribing the two options at the heart of the case. The first was a scheme hatched by Trump, Pecker and former lawyer Michael Cohen to “catch” stories or allegations that could damage Trump’s 2016 presidential candidacy and pay people to do so “Kill” them in exchange for a confidentiality agreement. Peck and others described three such arrangements, known as “hush money” payments.
A few days before the election, Cohen paid $130,000 To adult film star Stormy Daniels – Also a witness in the trial — in exchange for her silence on allegations of a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump. He and another witness described Trump breathed a sigh of relief Voters did not know this story before the election.
Cohen also described an arrangement in which he secretly repaid Daniels for payments. The jury concluded that Trump authorized a scheme to falsify business records while he was president in 2017 to conceal Cohen’s repayments. The plan ultimately includes 34 fake records Relating to monthly installments described as payments for ongoing legal services, when in fact they were reimbursements for payments made by Cohen to Daniels.
The jury took less than two days to reach its verdict. Trump frequently stared at his fellow jurors during the trial but did not make eye contact with them during the sentencing.
As the jury foreman stared straight ahead as he pronounced Trump guilty 34 times, Merchant thanked the jury for their service before allowing them to leave the room.
After Mercal walked out in person, Trump stood up, frowned, and briefly held his son Eric’s hand.
Trump led his entourage out of the courtroom, huddled with his lawyers for a moment, then turned to the cameras to await his reaction.
He has proclaimed his innocence, expressed outrage over the case and returned to the presidential campaign.
