NEW YORK: New York Judge Joan Murchin, who is presiding over President-elect Donald Trump’s hush money case, has set the sentence for 10 days before he takes office on January 20 and said he would be willing to impose jail time. Not inclined.
Trump, who is the first former president to be convicted of a crime, could appear either in person or virtually at the Jan. 10 sentencing, Murchin said.
The judge upheld Trump’s conviction in an 18-page ruling.
The judge said he was leaning toward an unconditional discharge — meaning the real estate tycoon would not be subject to any conditions — rather than prison.
Yet the conviction would see Trump enter the White House as a convicted felon.
Trump, 78, faces a possible four-year prison sentence, but legal experts — before winning the November presidential election — did not expect Murchan to send the former president to prison.
“It seems appropriate at this juncture to take notice of the court’s tendency not to impose a prison sentence,” the judge said, noting that the prosecution also did not “feasible recommend” a prison sentence. Believed.
Trump, who is expected to file an appeal that could potentially delay his conviction, condemned the decision late Friday.
He wrote on his platform Truth Social, “This illegitimate political attack is nothing but a hoax.
Calling Murchan a “radical bigot,” Trump added that the order was “willfully illegal, against our Constitution and, if allowed to stand, would end the presidency as it is.” We know.”
Trump was indicted in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election to prevent Trump from disclosing an alleged 2006 sexual encounter in New York.
Trump’s lawyers had sought to have the case dismissed on a number of grounds, including the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling last year that former US presidents enjoy broad immunity from prosecution for many official acts while in office.
Murchin rejected that argument but noted that Trump would be immune from prosecution after being sworn in as president.
“Finding no legal impediment to sentencing and recognizing that presidential immunity will likely attach once the defendant takes his oath of office, this court has a duty to decide the matter on January 20,” the judge said. Schedule the execution of the sentence before 2025.”