Trump to be sentenced before Inauguration Day
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Before Trump returns to the White House he will return to the courthouse, rules a New York judge on Friday.
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President-elect Donald Trump speaks to reporters before a New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago, on December 31, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP)
The New York judge handling President-elect Trump's hush money case ruled on Friday that the historic criminal conviction and the sentencing date are set for January 10, according to court records.
“Hereby ordered that Defendant's motion to dismiss the indictment and vacate the jury verdict pursuant to CPL S 210.20(10)(h) and S 210.40(1) is denied; and it is further ordered, that Defendant appear for sentencing following conviction on January 10, 2025, at 9:30 in the morning,” Acting Justice of the New York State Supreme Court said in an order.
Although the sentencing is set for January 10, just 10 days before Inauguration Day, Judge Juan Merchan noted in his written decision that Trump is unlikely to face jail time.
Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony charges related to falsifying company records, making him the first convicted felon to be elected president.
While prosecutors had urged Judge Merchan to suspend the case indefinitely, the judge concluded that moving forward with sentencing was the best option to ensure closure and allow Trump to seek an appeal.
Merchan, however, stated that he is not inclined to impose jail time, despite the conviction permitting it, as prosecutors "acknowledge they no longer consider [it] a feasible recommendation" in light of Trump's reelection.
Trump has the option to attend the sentencing in person or virtually. In addition, Merchan pointed out that the Supreme Court's ruling granting presidents immunity from prosecution for "official acts" does not extend to a president-elect.
He wrote, "Accordingly, a President-elect is not permitted to avail himself of the protections afforded to the individual occupying that Office."
In a statement, Trump's spokesperson, Steven Cheung, said that Friday's order "is a direct violation of the Supreme Court's Immunity decision and other longstanding jurisprudence," adding that the case should be dismissed and there should be no sentencing.
"President Trump must be allowed to continue the Presidential Transition process and to execute the vital duties of the presidency, unobstructed by the remains of this or any remnants of the Witch Hunts," Cheung added.
Federal Court upholds $5mln verdict against Trump
Late last month, a federal appeals court on December 25 upheld a jury's decision requiring Trump to pay $5 million in damages for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll.
The verdict stems from a civil trial last year where a New York jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll at a Manhattan department store in 1996 and subsequently defaming her. The jury awarded $2 million for the abuse and an additional $3 million for defamation.
Trump denied the allegations and appealed the decision, claiming the trial should not have allowed testimony from two other women who accused him of sexual assault. However, the Second US Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed his appeal.
The three-judge panel concluded, "We conclude that Mr. Trump has not demonstrated that the district court erred in any of the challenged rulings." They further stated, "He has not carried his burden to show that any claimed error or combination of claimed errors affected his substantial rights as required to warrant a new trial."
