A judge has ordered that Donald Trump will be sentenced on January 10 in his hush-money case in New York – less than two weeks before he is set to be sworn in as president.
Judge Juan Merchan signalled he’d sentence Trump to a conditional discharge, in which a case is closed without jail time, a fine or probation, and that the president-elect could appear in person or virtually for the hearing.
The case stems from Trump being convicted in May of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a $130 000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Trump had attempted to use his presidential election victory to dismiss the case against him.
The conviction stemmed from Trump’s attempt to cover up reimbursements to his ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen, who in 2016 paid off the adult film star to remain silent about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump.
The president-elect has denied all wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty, arguing the case was an attempt to harm his 2024 presidential campaign.
In his latest motion against the case, Trump’s defence had argued the case would hang over him during his presidency and impede his ability to govern.
The judge had been advised there were several measures he could employ that could assuage Trump’s concerns about being distracted by a criminal case while serving as president that fell short of the “extreme remedy” of overturning the jury’s verdict.
Justice Merchan had been weighing his options, which included delaying the sentencing until Trump, 78, leaves the White House in 2029, or guaranteeing a sentence that would not involve prison time.
Trump had initially, and unsuccessfully, argued the case against him ran afoul of a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity in his first motion to dismiss the case.
In July, the country’s top court ruled that presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for “official actions” they take while in office.
However, last month Justice Merchan ruled Trump’s hush money conviction was valid.
His sentencing on January 10 will make him the first felon to serve in the White House.
The president-elect was initially scheduled to be sentenced on November 26, but Justice Merchan pushed the date back after Trump won the presidential election.
A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (BBC)
