New York judge sets sentencing date while indicating no legal consequences, allowing Trump to pursue an appeal without disruption.
Washington DC [US], January 4: Former US President Donald Trump will be sentenced on January 10 in the criminal case where he was convicted of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, a New York judge ruled on Friday (local time).
Judge Juan Merchan, who upheld Trump’s conviction, stated that Trump will face no legal penalties for his conviction, effectively bringing the case to a conclusion.
Despite Trump’s appeal to overturn the jury’s verdict, citing its potential impact on his 2024 reelection campaign, Judge Merchan emphasized that unconditional discharge would provide finality to the case while enabling Trump to pursue his legal appeal without hindrance.
“A sentence of an unconditional discharge appears to be the most viable solution to ensure finality and allow Defendant to pursue his appellate options,” Judge Merchan wrote in his ruling.
The judge also granted Trump permission to attend the sentencing virtually, recognizing the mental and physical demands on him during the transition period ahead of the 2024 US Presidential Election.
“It was a smart move by Judge Merchan to announce in advance that he is going to impose no punishment and hold the proceeding remotely because that undermines any effort by Trump’s team to argue in federal court that sentencing imposes some major burden,” remarked CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig.
Trump was convicted in May 2024 on 34 counts of falsifying business records, linked to a hush money payment made by his former attorney, Michael Cohen, to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 Presidential Election. The payment was intended to silence allegations of an extramarital affair. Trump has consistently denied the affair and vowed to appeal the guilty verdict.
This conviction marked a historic moment in US history, as Donald Trump became the first president to be convicted of a felony.
With the sentencing set for January 10, Trump’s legal team is expected to focus on pursuing appeals while balancing the demands of his 2024 presidential campaign.
