Justice Juan Merchan said sentencing for the hush-money case must continue despite Trump’s status as America’s president-elect.
A New York judge, Juan Merchan, has ordered that US President-Elect Donald Trump will be sentenced on January 10, 2024, in his hush-money case.
Trump is set to be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on January 20, 2024, and Merchan signaled that he would not get jail time, probation, or a fine but will get an “unconditional discharge.”
Justice Merchan said Trump could appear for his sentencing hearing physically or virtually.
Trump, in a post on social media, described the judge’s order as an “illegitimate political attack” and called the hush-money case “nothing but a rigged charade.”
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Recall that Trump was initially scheduled to be sentenced on November 26, 2024, but Merchan postponed it after his victory at the presidential poll.
Following his victory, Trump tried to dismiss the case, but it couldn’t pull through.
Trump denies all wrongdoings in the case and said the trial was an attempt to harm his 2024 presidential campaign.
His spokesperson Steven Cheung called Justice Merchan’s order a “witch hunt.”
“President Trump must be allowed to continue the presidential transition process and to execute the vital duties of the presidency, unobstructed by the remains of this or any remnants of the witch hunts,” Cheung insisted.
“There should be no sentencing, and President Trump will continue fighting against these hoaxes until they are all dead.”