NEW YORK — A historic day in U.S. history looms as President-elect Donald Trump is set for sentencing on Friday following his conviction related to hush money payments in New York. This proceeding comes after the Supreme Court chose not to intervene in the case.
What is set to happen in a Manhattan courtroom is unprecedented, as it involves a former president facing potential legal consequences for felonies identified by a jury. A state judge will determine whether any penalties will be imposed for the crimes that Trump was found guilty of committing.
As Trump approaches his inauguration in just ten days, Judge Juan M. Merchan has suggested he might issue an unconditional discharge, which essentially would mean no jail time, probation, or fines. It’s important to note, however, that nothing is finalized until the hearing concludes. Regardless of the outcome, Trump will make history as the first person convicted of a felony to take on the role of president.
Trump is expected to participate in the hearing via video link from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where he will have an opportunity to address the court. Throughout the legal issues he faces, he has criticized this particular case, the only one of his four criminal charges that has gone to trial, and perhaps the only one that will reach that stage.
The judge’s plan for an unconditional discharge is notable, primarily to avoid any complex constitutional issues that could arise from imposing penalties during Trump’s presidency. The hush money case revolves around allegations that Trump manipulated his business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. This payment was made during Trump’s campaign in 2016 to prevent her from speaking publicly about an alleged affair from a decade prior, an encounter Trump refutes. He has dubbed the prosecution an unfounded attempt by political opponents to undermine him.
Trump asserted his innocence on social media last week, claiming, “I never falsified business records. It is a fake, made up charge.” The case was initiated by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat.
Outside the courtroom, supporters and critics of Trump rallied, with signs reflecting their divided perceptions of his situation. Some signs declared Trump guilty, while others accused his opponents of orchestrating a politically charged conspiracy against him.
The prosecution’s office stated in a recent court filing that Trump’s actions resulted in significant damage to both the electoral process and the financial integrity of New York. While the allegations involved checks and financial records, the core issue is more salacious, intertwining with Trump’s ascent in the political realm. Daniels was reportedly paid off through Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, as part of an effort to suppress negative information about Trump’s personal life from reaching voters.
Trump firmly denies any wrongdoing or that he was trying to use these payments to influence his political campaign. His legal representatives argue that their intention was purely to protect his family. They also suggest that the expenditures should be recorded as legal fees rather than being perceived as deceptive actions, insisting that “there was nothing else it could have been called” and that he was “hiding nothing.”
Despite his legal team’s efforts, which included attempts to prevent the trial, they were unsuccessful in their multitude of legal maneuvers to overturn the conviction, dismiss the case, or delay sentencing. They argued about issues of presidential immunity, seeking to limit evidence that could be detrimental to Trump’s defense, and aimed to have charges dropped to avoid complications during his transitional phase into the presidency.
Judge Merchan, who is a Democrat, previously postponed the sentencing, but ultimately set the date for a firmer resolution, emphasizing the need for clarity and respect towards the jury verdict and the public expectations that the law applies uniformly. Trump’s legal team made several last-ditch attempts to stay the sentencing, which ended when the Supreme Court chose not to issue a delay.
Meanwhile, other legal challenges previously facing Trump have either come to a halt or stalled as he heads into this critical moment in both his legal battles and political career. After his election, federal investigations into his handling of classified documents and attempts to overturn the 2020 election concluded, while a state-level inquiry regarding election interference in Georgia remains uncertain following the removal of the prosecuting attorney from the case.
