Trump hush money sentencing set for Jan. 10

A judge on Friday rejected a request to drop the New York criminal money case against the president-elect. Donald Trump and set Trump’s sentencing for Jan. 10 — less than two weeks before he is sworn in for a second term in the White House.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, in a written order, also said that he is not inclined to sentence Trump to prison in the case, and that he could impose a sentence of unconditional release. That would mean no probation or fine for the president-elect.

Merchan also said Trump had the option of appearing in person or virtually for the sentencing next week.

The judge in his ruling rejected arguments by Trump’s lawyers that the case should be dismissed because of a US Supreme Court decision last summer that said presidents have immunity presumptive from criminal prosecution for official acts while serving in the White House, and because of the Supremacy of the Constitution. Clause.

Trump’s lawyers also argued that the Manhattan District Attorney’s office targeted him for political motivations, and illegally leaked information about its investigation.

Trump was convicted at trial in May of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with a $130,000 cash payment that his personal attorney Michael Cohen made to porn star Stormy Daniels before the U.S. presidential election. 2016.

“This Court finds that presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for a sitting president does not extend to a president-elect,” Merchan wrote in his Friday ruling.

The judge also wrote: “While this Court in a matter of law should not make any determination on sentence before giving the parties and the defendants an opportunity to be heard, It seems appropriate at this point to make known the Court’s inclination not to impose any sentence of imprisonment, a sentence authorized by the conviction but which the People concede that it no longer sees as a workable recommendation,” Merchan wrote Friday .

The judge also wrote that “a sentence of unconditional release appears to be the most viable solution to ensure finality and allow the defendant to pursue his appeal options.”

Trump’s spokesman, Steven Cheung, in a statement, said: “Today’s order by the deeply conflicted, Acting Justice Merchan in the Manhattan DA Witch Hunt is a direct violation of the immunity decision of Supreme Court and other long-standing jurisprudence.”

“This lawless case should never have been brought and the Constitution demands that it be immediately dismissed,” Cheung said. “President Trump must be allowed to continue the presidential transition process and carry out the vital duties of the presidency, unhindered by the remnants of this or any remnants of the witch hunt. There must be no condemnation, and the president Trump will continue to fight against these cheats until they are all dead.”

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