US President-elect Donald Trump has lashed out at a judge’s decision to schedule his sentencing for the hush money trial on January 10, just days before his scheduled inauguration on January 20.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to describe the decision as a “political attack,” calling it a “Rigged Charade” and accusing the legal system of being “illegitimate.”
The sentencing follows Trump’s conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election. The conviction was upheld by Judge Juan Merchan, who dismissed motions from Trump’s legal team to overturn the New York jury’s verdict. Although Trump could appear for sentencing either in person or virtually, Judge Merchan indicated that he was not inclined to impose jail time. The judge suggested that an “unconditional discharge,” which would place no conditions on Trump’s release, was likely, meaning Trump would begin his presidency as a convicted felon.
Trump, who is 78, criticized both the case and the judge. On Truth Social, he argued that the case was “lawless” and should never have been brought, labeling Judge Merchan as a “radical partisan.” Trump also claimed that the decision to schedule the sentencing prior to his inauguration was a violation of the Constitution.
Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, echoed these sentiments, condemning the move as a breach of Supreme Court precedent regarding presidential immunity. He argued that Trump should be allowed to continue with the presidential transition process without interference, emphasizing the necessity for Trump to fulfill the duties of the presidency without obstruction.
While Trump faced up to four years in prison for the convictions, legal experts had suggested that jail time was unlikely, especially given the judge’s inclination to avoid incarceration. Judge Merchan’s decision came after prosecutors indicated they were not recommending a prison sentence. The judge noted that Trump would likely gain immunity from prosecution once he took office, adding that it was important to issue the sentence before January 20, 2025, to avoid the impact of presidential immunity on further legal proceedings.
In his 18-page ruling, Merchan explained that while sentencing Trump was appropriate before his inauguration, he found no legal barrier to proceeding with the case. Trump’s legal team has vowed to appeal the decision, which could potentially delay the sentencing.
In addition to the hush money case, Trump faces multiple other legal challenges, including two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith, as well as charges in Georgia over alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. However, any further proceedings related to these cases are expected to be paused once Trump assumes office, due to legal protections for sitting presidents.
