A New York judge has scheduled Donald Trump’s sentencing for January 10 in his hush-money case, less than two weeks before his presidential inauguration. Justice Juan Merchan indicated Trump will likely receive an “unconditional discharge,” avoiding jail time, probation, or fines. Trump can appear in person or virtually for the hearing.
The case stems from Trump’s conviction in May for 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to adult-film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election campaign. Trump has denied wrongdoing, pleaded not guilty, and called the case a politically motivated attack to harm his 2024 presidential campaign.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump dismissed the sentencing as unconstitutional, claiming it could undermine the presidency. His spokesperson Steven Cheung described the case as a “witch hunt,” insisting it obstructs Trump’s ability to transition into the presidency and govern effectively.
Justice Merchan acknowledged Trump’s concerns about managing a criminal case while serving as president but rejected overturning the jury’s verdict. Instead, he proposed measures such as delaying the sentence until Trump’s term ends in 2029 or ensuring a non-custodial penalty.
This marks Trump as the first convicted felon to hold the presidency. While falsifying business records carries a potential four-year sentence, experts deem incarceration unlikely due to Trump’s age and legal history. Trump plans to appeal the conviction after sentencing.
Separately, Trump faces charges in three other cases, including one involving classified documents and two related to alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
