After months of intricate legal developments, Donald Trump’s prominent criminal case is nearing a pivotal conclusion.
The former and future president is set to appear in a Manhattan courtroom on Friday for sentencing on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records, allegedly to hide a payment made to an adult film star.
On Thursday, Trump exhausted his final legal recourse to postpone the sentencing, as a slim majority of Supreme Court justices opted not to intervene.
In a statement, Trump expressed gratitude for the Supreme Court’s consideration but maintained his innocence, claiming, “I am innocent of all of the Judge’s made up, fake charges. This was nothing other than Weaponization of our Justice System against a Political Opponent.” He has signaled intentions to appeal both the conviction and the upcoming sentence.
The hearing occurs just 10 days before Trump is expected to be inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States, raising concerns that the sentencing might disrupt his governance.
Judge Juan Merchan has indicated he is unlikely to impose prison time or probation, potentially offering an “unconditional discharge,” which means no additional actions are required from Trump, although the conviction will remain on his record.
Prosecutors have suggested that the hearing may be brief, lasting less than an hour, and that Trump is anticipated to attend virtually.
Legal expert Anna Cominsky commented on the expected sentence: “There’s nothing else that the defendant has to do, and therefore it’s the least restrictive in terms of how it could impede in any way on the president-elect as he takes office.” She emphasized the need for closure, especially as Trump prepares to assume the presidency.
Despite this, Trump’s legal team is preparing to appeal the case, suggesting the process could continue for years.
Since his conviction in May, Judge Merchan has postponed sentencing multiple times to avoid perceptions of political bias and to allow Trump to argue claims of immunity. Ultimately, Merchan rejected these claims, setting the stage for the upcoming hearing.
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Trump made history in May by becoming the first former or sitting U.S. president tried and convicted on criminal charges.
During the trial in Manhattan, the jury heard from 22 witnesses over a month, evaluating various evidence, including documents related to targeted payments. The jurors concluded that Trump had falsified business records to conceal a $130,000 payment aimed at influencing the 2016 presidential election.
Despite the conviction, Trump’s popularity remains resilient; he has effectively harnessed the legal battles to rally donations for both his campaign and rising legal expenses. Following the guilty verdict, his campaign reported raising millions within 24 hours.
Moreover, 49% of voters in the recent election expressed their support for bringing Trump back to the White House.
