- विज्ञापन -
Washington: A judge has scheduled Donald Trump to be sentenced on January 10 in his hush-money case in New York, just under two weeks before he is set to take office as president. Justice Juan Merchan indicated he would likely issue an “unconditional discharge” rather than imposing jail time, probation, or fines, and noted that Trump could attend the hearing either in person or virtually.
Trump has claimed that his election victory should lead to the dismissal of the case against him. He characterized the judge’s order as an “illegitimate political attack” on social media, referring to the case as a “rigged charade.”
In May, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records linked to a $130,000 payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. These charges stemmed from efforts to conceal reimbursements to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who paid Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump during the final days of the 2016 election campaign. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty, asserting that the case is designed to undermine his 2024 presidential campaign.
On Saturday, Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that the judge’s sentencing order contradicts the Constitution and warned that allowing it would jeopardize the presidency. His spokesperson, Steven Cheung, labeled the order a “witch hunt” and insisted that Trump should be free to continue the presidential transition and fulfill his duties without interference from ongoing legal issues.
In his latest motion, Trump argued that the case could overshadow his presidency and hinder his ability to govern. Justice Merchan mentioned several options to alleviate Trump’s concerns, such as delaying the sentencing until he leaves the White House in 2029 or ensuring a sentence without prison time.
Trump had previously contended that the case violated a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, but last month, Justice Merchan upheld the validity of the hush money conviction. If sentenced, Trump would become the first convicted felon to serve as president. While falsifying business records can result in up to four years in prison, there is no mandatory minimum sentence, and experts believe it’s unlikely Trump will face jail time due to his age and legal history.
In addition to this case, Trump is also facing charges in three other state and federal criminal cases: one related to classified documents and two concerning his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. The sentencing was originally set for November 26 but was postponed after Trump won the election.
