Judge Juan Melchán ordered President-elect Donald Trump to be sentenced before Inauguration Day on January 20th.
Merchan Found He ordered President Trump to appear in court on January 10, saying there was “no legal impediment” to imposing a sentence.
“This court has carefully considered the parties’ respective claims and determined that ignoring the jury’s verdict is neither the best nor the only way to reconcile competing interests,” Marchand wrote.
Marchan wrote that waiting to sentence Trump until the end of his term is “less desirable” than sentencing before his term begins, indicating he did not intend to impose “any prison sentence.” did.
“[A] “A sentence of unconditional release appears to be the most viable solution to ensure finality and allow the defendant to pursue his appellate options,” Marchand wrote.
BREAKING: Judge orders Trump to be sentenced before Inauguration Day on January 10th. pic.twitter.com/uijFDojL9H
— Katelyn Richardson (@katesrichardson) January 3, 2025
The executive order states that President Trump may appear virtually at the hearing. (Related: Liberal lawyer offers likely nuclear option to prevent Trump from taking office)
“[T]His court recognizes the importance of considering and balancing the seemingly competing factors before it. That is, to ensure that the executive branch is free to fully carry out the president’s duties and protect the nation’s interests, unencumbered by pending criminal proceedings. Ensuring that the Supreme Court’s decisions and public expectations that all people are equal and no one is above the law are respected. and the importance of upholding the sanctity of jury verdicts,” Marchand wrote. “This court is not at all satisfied that the first element, alone or in combination with Clayton’s other elements, outweighs the others at this stage of the proceeding.”
President Trump’s communications director, Stephen Chan, said, “There should be no judgment,” and assured that President Trump would “continue to fight these rumors until we’re all dead.”
“Today’s order by acting Judge Marchan, a deeply conflicted judge in the Manhattan witch hunt case, is a direct violation of the Supreme Court’s immunity decision and other longstanding precedent,” Chan said. “This lawless lawsuit should never have been filed, and the Constitution requires its immediate dismissal. must be allowed to carry out their duties.”
In May, after a weeks-long trial, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of 34 felonies for falsifying business records related to a non-disclosure agreement with porn actress Stormy Daniels. The jury instructions provided by Marchand did not require prosecutors to agree on the underlying crime that they allege Trump falsified records to cover up.
Sentencing was initially set days before the Republican National Convention in July, but has been repeatedly delayed. The first delay was due to a Supreme Court ruling in July regarding presidential immunity.
After Trump won the presidential election in November, Marchand postponed his sentencing date indefinitely.
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