President-elect Donald Trump will be sentenced on January 10 in the criminal case in which he was convicted of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The payment was made to Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006.
According to Judge Juan Merchan, Trump is unlikely to face jail time or other penalties. Merchan wrote that a sentence of “unconditional discharge” – meaning no custody, monetary fine, or probation – would be the most viable solution.
Trump’s defense lawyers had argued that having the case hang over him during his presidency would impede his ability to govern. However, Merchan rejected this argument, writing that setting aside the jury’s verdict would “undermine the Rule of Law in immeasurable ways.”
Trump is expected to appeal the conviction. In a statement on his Truth Social network, Trump denied the charges, saying that the case was “a fake, made up charge by a corrupt judge who is just doing the work of the Biden/Harris Injustice Department.”
The case was brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who said that Trump had falsified business records to conceal the payment to Daniels. Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records and was also found guilty of 10 counts of contempt for repeatedly violating an order restricting out-of-court statements about witnesses and others.
The sentencing is an unprecedented scenario in U.S. history, as no U.S. president – former or sitting – has ever been charged with or convicted of a crime. Trump’s sentencing will pave the way for him to appeal the conviction.