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The wild “hush money” case against President-elect Donald Trump has taken another turn on Friday, after Judge Juan M. Merchan rejected Trump’s bid to dismiss the case, and defiantly set a date for sentencing.
Below is an excerpt from the Associated Press: In an extraordinary turn, a judge Friday set President-elect Donald Trump’s sentencing in his hush money case for Jan. 10 — little over a week before he’s due to return to the White House — but indicated he wouldn’t be jailed.
The development nevertheless leaves Trump on course to be the first president to take office convicted of felony crimes.
Judge Juan M. Merchan, who presided over Trump’s trial, signaled in a written decision that he’d sentence the former and future president to what’s known as an unconditional discharge, in which a case is closed without jail time, a fine or probation. Trump can appear virtually for sentencing, if he chooses.
Merchan wrote that he sought to balance competing interests: Trump’s ability to govern “unencumbered” by the case, the U.S. Supreme Court’s July ruling on presidential immunity, the public’s expectation “that all are equal and no one is above the Iaw,” and the importance of protecting the “sanctity of a jury verdict.”
The “unconditional discharge” means Trump would basically avoid punishment, but the conviction would remain on his record.
The sentencing has been set for January 10, at 9:30 a.m.
The entire case is over so-called “hush money” that was allegedly paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg had charged Trump with 34 counts, accusing Trump of trying to influence the election.
However, the wild case against Trump, along with the courtroom drama, only strengthened Trump’s support base during his 2024 presidential campaign.
In the 18-page ruling, Merchan wrote, “it seems proper at this juncture to make known the Court’s inclination to not impose any sentence of incarceration, a sentence authorized by the conviction but one the People concede they no longer view as a practicable recommendation.”
Sorry libs, Trump isn’t going anywhere but the WH😂😂
Merchan:
“it seems proper at this juncture to make known the Court’s inclination to not impose any sentence of incarceration, a sentence authorized by the conviction but one the People concede they no longer view as a… pic.twitter.com/7hsrUxhM9X
— Spitfire (@DogRightGirl) January 3, 2025
BREAKING: Judge Merchan has scheduled President-Elect Trump to be sentenced in the New York hush money trial on January 10th.
That is just 10 days before the inauguration. pic.twitter.com/L2xyNI9KvL
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) January 3, 2025
BREAKING: Judge Merchan orders President-Elect Donald Trump to be sentenced on January 10th in New York hush money case pic.twitter.com/YA5RFJFdLD
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) January 3, 2025
Never Forget when Judge Juan Merchan FORCED Trump to delete this post from Truth Social
IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF WE MADE IT VIRAL
YOU ALL KNOW WHAT TO DO 👇 pic.twitter.com/EDWV4vruvu
— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) January 3, 2025
BREAKING: Judge orders President-elect Donald Trump to be sentenced on Jan. 10 in New York hush money case but signals no jail time. https://t.co/fz2pBf51N1
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 3, 2025
BREAKING: Judge orders President-elect Trump to be sentenced in hush money case on Jan. 10, but says he won’t be incarcerated. https://t.co/cqna7yjLrp
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 3, 2025
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