Donald Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on January 10 in connection with his hush money case involving payments made to a porn star. Judge Juan Merchan ruled that he is unlikely to impose a jail sentence, suggesting instead an "unconditional discharge," which would mean no custody, monetary fine, or probation.
During a recent court session, Judge Merchan denied Trump's motion to dismiss the case, which was based on his presidential election victory. He stated that Trump may attend the sentencing either in person or virtually, just ten days before his inauguration.
Merchan emphasized that concluding the case serves the interests of justice, balancing Trump's ability to govern with public expectations for equal application of the law. He noted that the case must move forward to provide finality and uphold the jury's verdict.
Trump's legal team had argued that the case could disrupt his presidency, while prosecutors suggested options like freezing the case or ensuring no jail time. Ultimately, the judge decided that an unconditional discharge appears to be the most viable solution.
If this sentence is carried out, Trump would become the first president to take office with a felony conviction. The charges stem from his conviction on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records tied to a $130,000 payment made in 2016 to silence allegations from Stormy Daniels about an affair.