In a last-ditch lawfare effort, far-left New York judge Juan Merchan has insisted he will sentence President-elect Donald J. Trump on January 10th in the so-called “hush money” case. A New York jury found Trump guilty Trump in May 2024 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to adult actress Stormy Daniels in 2016.
Merchan’s sentencing will likely be under a conditional discharge, meaning there will be no jail time, and the case will be dismissed if Trump is not arrested again within the next three years.
In a case even CNN’s legal analyst, Elie Honig, referred to as “an ill-conceived, unjustified mess,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg used the power of the judicial system to try to interfere in the U.S. presidential election. Judge Merchan’s daughter was found to have a direct financial relationship with top Democrats via her firm, Authentic.
Trump is ordered to appear in person or virtually.
Merchan ruled on Friday:
“…this Court finds that neither the vacatur of the jury’s verdicts nor dismissal of the indictment are required by the Presidential immunity doctrine, the Presidential Transition Act or the Supremacy Clause; and THIS COURT FURTHER FINDS that Defendant’s arguments, whether independent of one another, or considered together, in support of his motions pursuant to CPL § 210.40(1) factors (a) through () are unpersuasive as no compelling factor, consideration or circumstance submitted demonstrate that imposition of sentence would result in an injustice; and THIS COURT FURTHER FINDS that there is no legal impediment to imposition of sentence under CPL § 210.20(1)(h); and it 1s HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant’s motion to dismiss the indictment and vacate the jury verdict pursuant to CPL § 210.20(10)(h) and § 210.40(1) is denied; and it is further ORDERED, that Defendant appear for sentencing following conviction on January 10, 2025, at 9:30 in the morning, at the Courthouse located at 100 Centre Street in New York County; and it is further ORDERED, that Defendant may choose to appear at his sentencing in person or virtually. Counsel is directed to inform this Court of Defendant’s preference no later than January 5, 2025.”