Trump's Sentencing Looms As Judge Indicates No Jail Time Ahead of Inauguration

On January 10, a judge will decide the consequences of Trump's conviction related to payments made to silence allegations of an affair, though a non-jail outcome seems likely.

Donald Trump is on the verge of being sentenced regarding his hush-money case in New York after a judge confirmed the hearing date for January 10, just days before his inauguration. Judge Juan Merchan has hinted that rather than jail time or probation, he might impose an "unconditional discharge" for Trump, who can attend the proceedings either in person or virtually.

The former president has dismissed the judicial process as an "illegitimate political attack" on his campaign, calling the case a "rigged charade." Trump was found guilty in May on 34 felony charges for falsifying business records concerning a $130,000 payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The payment was made by his former attorney Michael Cohen, who sought to prevent Daniels from revealing an alleged sexual encounter during Trump's 2016 election campaign.

Trump maintains his innocence, claiming that the legal proceedings aim to undermine his 2024 presidential ambitions. He expressed his discontent on social media, asserting that upholding the judge's sentencing order would undermine the Constitution and harm the presidency's integrity. His spokesperson, Steven Cheung, labeled the situation as a "witch hunt," emphasizing that Trump should be allowed to carry out his duties without these legal distractions.

In previous legal maneuvers, Trump argued the ongoing case would overshadow his presidency and obstruct his governance. Justice Merchan noted options to alleviate Trump's concerns that don't involve revising the jury's decision, such as delaying sentencing until Trump's term concludes in 2029 or offering a non-incarceration sentence.

Despite Trump's unsuccessful attempts to leverage presidential immunity in this case, the judge affirmed the validity of the conviction. Should he proceed with sentencing, Trump would make history as the first convicted felon to hold the presidency, and while the law allows up to four years of imprisonment for falsifying business records, there is no mandatory sentence. Legal experts had anticipated that given Trump's age and history, jail time was improbable long before the election results came in.

In addition to the hush-money case, Trump faces charges in three other criminal matters, including one with classified documents and two related to alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Originally slated for sentencing on November 26, the date was postponed following Trump's electoral victory.