Trump to be sentenced in hush money trial but will not face jail time

NEWS WIRES

3 January 2025 at 4:58 pm·1-min read

Former US president Donald Trump sits in a Manhattan Criminal Court room before the start of his hush money trial in New York City on May 14, 2024.

The New York judge in US President-elect Donald Trump's hush money case ruled on Friday that Trump must be sentenced on January 10, just days before his inauguration. However, Justice Juan Merchan also indicated that he will not impose a jail sentence.

The New York judge presiding over President-elect Donald Trump's hush money case on Friday set sentencing for 10 days before his January 20 inauguration and said he was not inclined to impose jail time.

Judge Juan Merchan said Trump, the first former president ever convicted of a crime, can appear either in person or virtually at his January 10 sentencing.

In an 18-page decision, Merchan upheld Trump's conviction by a New York jury, rejecting various motions from Trump's lawyers seeking to have it thrown out.

The judge said that instead of incarceration he was leaning towards an unconditional discharge – meaning the real estate tycoon would not be subject to any conditions.

The sentence would nevertheless see Trump entering the White House as a convicted felon.

Trump, who is expected to lodge an appeal that could potentially delay his sentencing, denounced the decision late Friday.

(AFP)

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