A New York judge has set a sentencing date for President-elect Donald Trump's case to maintain his silence just ten days before his inauguration on January 20.
Judge Juan Merchán announced Friday that Trump, the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime, could appear in person or virtually at his Jan. 10 sentencing.
Merchan indicated that he was unlikely to impose prison sentences, but was leaning toward unconditional freedom.
“It seems appropriate at this time to make known the Court's inclination not to impose any sentence of imprisonment,” Merchan said, adding that prosecutors also did not see a prison sentence as a “viable recommendation.”
Trump was convicted in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
The payment, made during her 2016 presidential campaign, was intended to prevent Daniels from revealing an alleged affair with Trump in 2006.
In her 18-page decision, Merchan rejected several motions by Trump's lawyers to overturn the conviction, including arguments invoking last year's Supreme Court decision that granted broad immunity to former presidents for official acts performed in office.
While the judge dismissed this argument, he acknowledged that Trump would regain immunity by taking the presidential oath.
“Finding no legal impediment to sentencing and recognizing that presidential immunity will likely apply once the defendant is sworn in, it is incumbent on this Court to set this matter for sentencing before January 20, 2025,” Merchan said. .
The case marks one of several legal battles involving Trump. Federal cases related to his alleged role in trying to overturn the 2020 election and deleting classified documents after leaving office were dropped due to a Justice Department policy that prohibits the prosecution of sitting presidents.
Additionally, Trump faces racketeering charges in Georgia for his efforts to overturn the state's 2020 election results, although that case is expected to stall while he serves in the White House.
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