Judge Juan Merchan ordered President-elect Donald Trump to be sentenced before his inauguration on Jan.20.
Merchan found there is “no legal impediment” to imposing a sentence and ordered Trump to appear in court on Jan. 10.
“This Court has painstakingly considered the respective arguments of the parties and finds that setting aside the jury verdict is not the best or only way to reconcile the competing interests,” Merchan wrote.
Waiting until Trump finishes his term to impose a sentence is “less desirable” than doing so before he begins, Merchan wrote, indicating that he would not impose “any sentence of incarceration.”
“[A] sentence of an unconditional discharge appears to be the most viable solution to ensure finality and allow Defendant to pursue his appellate options,” Merchan wrote.
BREAKING: Judge orders Trump to be sentenced before inauguration on Jan. 10. pic.twitter.com/uijFDojL9H
— Katelynn Richardson (@katesrichardson) January 3, 2025
Trump may appear virtually to the hearing, the order states.
“[T]his Court recognizes the importance of considering and balancing the seemingly competing factors before it: ensuring that the Executive Brach is free to fully dispense the duties of the President and safeguard the interests of the Nation, unencumbered by pending criminal proceedings; to ensure that the Supreme Court’s ruling and the citizenry’s expectation be honored that all are equal and no one is above the law; and the importance of protecting the sanctiry of a jury verdict,” Merchan wrote. “This Court is simply not persuaded that the first factor outweighs the others at this stage of the proceeding, either on its own or in conjunction with the other Clayton factors.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
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